Agency :
Asian shares and bond yields sank on Friday while safe-haven currencies, gold and crude oil jumped after reports Israel attacked Iran in a continuing series of assaults that have increased concerns of a wider Middle East conflict.
However, the scope of the market moves were mitigated somewhat as details emerged the Israeli attack was limited and Iranian officials denied any missiles were launched against it.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares dropped 2%, after earlier diving as much as 2.6%, and U.S. stock futures pointed 1% lower, retracing part of an initial 1.7% slide.
Iran said it shot down several drones and there had been no missile attack, after explosions were heard near the central city of Isfahan, close to several nuclear sites. Those reactors were not damaged, state TV reported.
ABC News reported earlier that Israeli missiles hit a site in Iran.
Fears of an Iranian response eased after the Israeli military said that warning sirens which sounded early on Friday in northern Israel were a false alarm.
U.S. long-term Treasury yields were last down 9 basis points (bps) at 4.5567%, after earlier dropping as much as 15 bps. The safe-haven yen had rallied as much as 0.7% against the dollar , but was last up about 0.3%. The Swiss franc was about 0.6% higher versus the dollar, paring earlier gains of as much as 1.2%.
