Australian shares are poised for a weaker open on Friday as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East dominate headlines and Wall Street remains shut for the Juneteenth holiday.
At 7 am AEST, ASX futures were down 23 points or 0.3% to 8,496.0, signalling another cautious start for local equities.
The market remains on edge following a statement from White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, who relayed a message from President Donald Trump suggesting a decision could be made within two weeks on whether the United States would join Israel in direct military action against Iran.
The announcement follows reports that senior U.S. officials are preparing for a potential military strike against Iran, heightening concerns about broader conflict in the region.
The situation escalated further after Iran imposed a nationwide blackout of internet and telephone services, citing the need to prevent Israeli cyberattacks amid mounting fears of a U.S. entry into the war.
With Wall Street shuttered for the Juneteenth public holiday, traders lacked direction from U.S. equities.
In Asia, attention turns to Japan’s economic calendar. Consumer price index (CPI) figures are due at 9:30 am AEST, which may offer fresh insights into inflationary pressures.
Markets will also be closely watching a scheduled speech by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, as well as the release of the central bank’s latest meeting minutes.
