(Updates prices throughout, adds European stock futures in par
* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Nikkei skids as Japan returns from holiday
* Oil prices jump on fears of supply disruptions
* Safe-haven yen, bonds and gold all in demand
By Wayne Cole and Swati Pandey
SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Tensions in the Middle East after
the killing of a top Iranian general by the United States pushed
an index of Asian shares off an 18-month high on Monday as
investors pushed safe-haven gold near a seven-year high, and
oil jumped to four-month peaks.
The United States detected a heightened state of alert by
Iran's missile forces, as President Donald Trump warned the
United States would strike back, "perhaps in a disproportionate
manner," if Iran attacked any American person or target.
Iraq's parliament on Sunday recommended all foreign troops
be ordered out of the country after the U.S. killing of a top
Iranian military commander and an Iraqi militia leader in a
drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport.
Spot gold XAU= gained 1.6% to $1,579.55 per ounce in
jittery trade to reach its highest since April 2013.
Oil prices extended gains on fears any Middle East conflict
could disrupt global supplies. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose $1.9 to $70.50 a barrel,
while U.S. crude CLc1 climbed $1.5 to $64.57.
"The risk of further escalation has clearly gone up - given
the direct attack on Iran, Iran's threat of retaliation and
Trump's desire to look tough - posing the threat of higher oil
prices," said Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital.
"Historically though oil prices need to double to pose a
severe threat to global growth and we are long way from that."
In early European trades, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50
futures STXEc1 eased 0.6%, German DAX futures FDXc1 were
down 0.75% while FTSE futures FFIc1 were off 0.4%.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS slipped 0.7%.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 slid almost 2% in a sour return from
holiday, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 fell 0.3%
in very choppy trade.
Chinese shares, which had opened in the red, reversed their
losses, as did Australian shares which ended the day flat. Hong
Kong's Hang Seng index .HSI eased 0.5%.
"Geopolitical tensions look like remaining elevated in
coming days, so lending support to oil prices and keeping risk
asset markets on the defensive," said Ray Attrill, head of FX
strategy at National Australia Bank.
Sovereign bonds benefited from the safety bid with yields on
10-year Treasuries US10YT=RR down at 1.7725% having fallen 10
basis points on Friday. Treasury futures TYc1 gained 4-1/2
ticks.
The yen remained the favoured safe haven among currencies
thanks to Japan's massive holdings of foreign assets. Investors
assume Japanese funds would repatriate their money during a true
global crisis, pushing the yen higher.
On Monday, the dollar was last at 108.05 yen JPY= , after
falling to a three-month trough of 107.78 earlier in the
session. The euro likewise eased to 120.64 yen EURJPY= having
hit a three-week low.
The dollar was steadier against other majors, with the euro
a tad firmer at $1.1165 EUR= . Against a basket of currencies,
the dollar was holding at 96.852 .DXY .
The risk sensitive currencies of Australia AUD=D3 and New
Zealand NZD=D3 were on track for their fourth straight session
of losses. AUD/
Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
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(Editing by Sam Holmes & Simon Cameron-Moore)