China and Hong Kong stocks fall as Middle East tensions pressure markets

On Wednesday China's Shanghai Composite closed at 3,993.23, down 0.42%, while the Shenzhen index slipped 1.97% to 2,688.46. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index fell 0.64% to 24,407.96, extending a six‑session losing streak that has erased about 6.5% of its value.

Both markets were weighed down by a weak global outlook tied to escalating Middle‑East conflict. U.S. and European equities also opened lower; the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.87%, the Nasdaq fell 1.98% and the S&P 500 slipped 1.62%. Crude oil rose over 2.5% to $90.46 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed.

U.S. consumer‑price data for May matched expectations, and President Donald Trump signaled further pressure on Iran after U.S. self‑defense strikes. The combined geopolitical and energy concerns dampened investor sentiment across Asian bourses.