Hong Kong: Shares Fall as Oil Surges.

The Hang Seng Index fell 323 points, or 1.2%, to 25,640 on Monday, as investors turned cautious amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Sentiment weakened after US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran, raising fears of further escalation in the region and potential disruptions to global oil supplies. Oil prices climbed more than 1%, driven by concerns that prolonged tensions could disrupt crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. The rise in oil prices added to inflation worries and raised expectations of higher operating costs for businesses, prompting investors to trim exposure to equities. Finance and technology-related shares led the decline. Tencent Holdings slipped 0.3%, while AIA Group fell 1.0%. Other notable laggards included Shenzhou International (-0.7%), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (-0.1%), and SMIC (-0.8%). In contrast, Xiaomi Corporation gained nearly 1%.