Hong Kong's main board has suffered its worst month since 2008 as rising coronavirus cases in China and war in Eastern Europe batter confidence
Asian stocks saw a mixed start to the week with Hong Kong and China hurt by new Covid restrictions but Tokyo and Mumbai advancing on hopes of Ukraine peace talks
Hong Kong closed at its lowest levels since mid-2016 but Chinese equity markets were boosted by reports of positive audit talks with US regulators
Tokyo’s Nikkei saw its best day in nearly two years and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng bounced back too but analysts warn hopes of peace soon in Eastern Europe are thin
Analysts predict more turmoil ahead for global commodities markets after Russia’s Ukraine invasion with nickel trading still suspended on the London Metals Exchange
Tokyo and Hong Kong led the losses across Asia as wheat, metals and oil prices continued to spiral and gold rose too
Oil prices continue to rocket following Russia’s invasion and in afternoon Asian trade Brent rose as high as $113.02 and WTI peaked at $111.50
Nikkei would add the financial services group on April 4, when the Tokyo Stock Exchange restructures the market into new divisions