Japan's Nikkei Declines Amid Iran-US Conflict and Economic Concerns

Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell for a third consecutive day amid concerns over the Iran-US conflict's impact on energy prices and economic growth. The index dropped around 0.1 to 1.3 percent, with a cumulative decline of over 9 percent since the start of air strikes. Rising oil prices and a weakening yen near 160 per dollar have raised stagflation fears. Japanese officials stated no plans to send naval escorts but remain ready to intervene in financial markets. Market activity showed mixed sector performance with more decliners than advancers.