Kospi slides as Gulf strikes rattle oil, bonds and Asian markets

Asian markets fell sharply on Monday after drone strikes in the Gulf reportedly triggered a fire at a nuclear power facility in the UAE, lifting oil prices and reigniting fears over inflation, tighter monetary policy and slower global growth. The renewed geopolitical tensions pushed investors away from equities and into defensive positions, while global bond yields climbed to multi-month highs amid concerns that elevated energy prices could delay central bank easing and even revive the prospect of further interest rate hikes.