---
title: "What happened overnight – Monday 23rd March 2026"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2026-03-23T08:07:27+00:00"
modified: "2026-03-23T08:07:27+00:00"
date: 2026-03-23
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/what-happened-overnight-monday-23rd-march-2026/"
category: "B2B"
categories: ["B2B", "Blogs", "Technology", "Technology, Media & Telecoms"]
tags: ["Asia", "Bangkok", "Denmark", "Endeavour Mining", "Fed", "Federal Reserve", "Finland", "FRANCE", "FTSE 100", "GERMANY", "Glencore", "Greenland plan", "Hong kong", "Japan", "Manila", "mining stocks", "Mumbai", "Nasdaq Composite", "NATO alliance", "Netherlands", "Nikkei 225", "Norway", "S&P 500", "shanghai", "Singapore", "Sweden", "Sydney", "Taiwan", "UK", "United States", "Wall Street", "Wellington"]
image: "https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/overnight-1-1.webp?fit=750%2C406&quality=80&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# What happened overnight – Monday 23rd March 2026

**Published:** March 23, 2026
**Author:** sharetalk
**Categories:** B2B, Blogs, Technology, Technology, Media & Telecoms
**Tags:** Asia, Bangkok, Denmark, Endeavour Mining, Fed, Federal Reserve, Finland, FRANCE, FTSE 100, GERMANY, Glencore, Greenland plan, Hong kong, Japan, Manila, mining stocks, Mumbai, Nasdaq Composite, NATO alliance, Netherlands, Nikkei 225, Norway, S&P 500, shanghai, Singapore, Sweden, Sydney, Taiwan, UK, United States, Wall Street, Wellington
**Featured image:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/overnight-1-1.webp?fit=750%2C406&quality=80&ssl=1)

---

### Asian markets plunge as Trump threats escalate tensions

Asian stocks tumbled after renewed warnings from Donald Trump dashed hopes of a near-term de-escalation in the Iran conflict.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell **3.5% to 51,511.75**, while Taiwan’s **Taiex** dropped **2.5% to 32,722.50**. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped **0.7% to 8,365.90**.

Losses were sharper elsewhere, with South Korea’s **Kospi** plunging **6.5% to 5,404.77**. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined **4.1% to 24,250.44**, and China’s Shanghai Composite fell **3.8% to 3,806.29**.

Over the weekend, Trump warned the US would **“obliterate” Iran’s power plants** if the **Strait of Hormuz** is not reopened within 48 hours. Tehran responded by threatening to **target US and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets** across the region.

Rising oil prices have added to market pressure, with **Brent crude holding around $113 a barrel**, reinforcing fears of prolonged inflation and reducing expectations for global interest rate cuts.

**Wholesale gas prices** in Europe climbed in early trading as energy markets remain on edge.

The UK month-ahead contract rose **3.1% to 155p per therm**, leaving prices **almost double where they were before the Iran conflict began**.

The weakness followed a sell-off on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 fell **1.5%**, marking its **fourth consecutive weekly decline**. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped **1%**, while the Nasdaq Composite slid **2%**.

**Spot gold** has dropped by 4.6% today to $4,280 an ounce, hitting a nearly four-month low. Gold is suffering from rising expectations of higher global interest rates, traders say.

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