Iran warns US sanctions backers of ‘act of war’

Asian share markets were flat on Monday, with oil prices easing as investors awaited details of threatened US sanctions on Iran, and the Canadian dollar dipping due to looming trade tensions with its southern neighbor. Tech stocks remained cautiously optimistic, awaiting Nvidia's results on Wednesday, as investors anticipate a significant challenge for the chip maker to meet high expectations.

Analysts are expecting Nvidia's quarterly revenue to almost double to around $92 billion, with full-year earnings guidance in the range of $103 billion to $105 billion.

Market participants also look forward to clarity on the outlook for US interest rates during Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday. However, Warsh's aversion to forward guidance may disappoint investors, as he may focus on aspects of his "regime change" agenda instead. Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan, suggests that Warsh will likely concentrate on the balance sheet, given the Federal Reserve's recent progress in shrinking it.

The odds are around a 40% chance that the US Fed will raise interest rates at their meeting on September 16, with markets already pricing in a possible move by December. The odds may change based on US inflation figures, with median forecasts for core inflation expected to remain at 3.3% in July. Warsh will likely be questioned about the surprise announcement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on August 19, which involved a doubling of bond buybacks to curb rising yields and tighten financial conditions.

Bessent is scheduled to hold a news conference later on Monday to outline the US sanctions on Iran, which has been defiant in its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude slipped 1% to $93.43 before the announcement, following gains of 6.6% in the week ended August 23. Meanwhile, US crude eased 1.1% to $86.14 a barrel.

Equity markets were relatively quiet in early trade, with Japan's Nikkei near flat after falling almost 4% in the week ended August 23. South Korean shares slipped 0.8%, while Taiwan dipped 0.5%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.2%. In Europe, Euro Stoxx 50, Dax, and FTSE futures remained largely unchanged. On Wall Street, S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures saw a slight decrease.

Currency markets saw the US dollar gain 0.1% against the Canadian dollar, reaching 1.3784, following Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement that Canada would respond to US tariffs with similar levies on US goods. The US dollar faced headwinds elsewhere, losing 0.8% against a basket of currencies in the week ended August 23. The euro held steady at $1.1675, and the US dollar remained unchanged at 159 yen.

Gold gained 0.4% to $4,623 an ounce, ending the month with its biggest monthly rise on record. Market sentiment remains cautious, as investors worry that mounting US debt and policy uncertainties may erode the currency's purchasing power, driving demand for scarcer assets like gold.