Reports indicate Iran will retaliate against European military targets if the United States escalates the conflict.

Citing sources close to the Iranian regime, the UK’s Financial Times reported that Iran has considered attacking US military targets in Europe should the United States escalate the conflict. These potential targets include the Bulgarian air base, which only last month opened its facilities to US refueling aircraft, with Cyprus also viewed as a potential target. Sources indicated that the Iranian military is also studying the possibility of severing submarine fiber-optic cables in the Strait of Hormuz in the event of an escalation. These threats reflect a growing belief among insiders within the Iranian regime that a renewed war is merely a matter of time. According to sources, Iran’s retaliation will depend on US actions; if the US attacks Iranian infrastructure, Iran will further expand its response.

AASTOCKSAug 19 14:25

Hong Kong Stock Market Update | Oil stocks rise collectively; PetroChina gains approximately 2% as oil prices strengthen amid dim prospects for a ceasefire agreement

Gelonghui, August 19 | Hong Kong-listed oil stocks generally rose, with PetroChina gaining nearly 2%, CNOOC up 1.4%, and COSL rising over 1%. Yanchang Petroleum International, Sinopec, and Shanghai Petrochemical also followed the upward trend. On the news front, the dimming prospects for a ceasefire agreement have supported stronger crude oil prices. In early trading on August 19, the gain in Brent crude futures expanded to 1%, reaching $91.95 per barrel. The market widely believes that heightened tensions in the Middle East, which have increased uncertainty on the supply side, are the primary drivers pushing oil prices higher. In addition to geopolitical factors, expectations of tightening global crude oil supplies are also gaining traction.

Gelonghui FinanceAug 19 11:36

Zhitong Stock Connect Holdings Analysis | August 19

Analysis of Stock Connect Holdings | August 18, 2026

Zhitong FinanceAug 19 08:30

Trump claimed that there would be no talks with Iran, either currently or in the future, and displayed a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory.”

Trump labeled the Strait of Hormuz as "new U.S. territory," prompting Iranian media to retort that Trump was "delusional." Mediator Qatar stated it is waiting for Iran and Oman to reach an agreement on the strait to facilitate the resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations and the reopening of the waterway. Iran claimed that the United States had considered applying the "Venezuela model" against it but failed. U.S. media reported that the United States is considering maintaining a small-scale military presence in the Persian Gulf after the conflict ends.

wallstreetcnAug 19 00:42

[HK Stocks] Hang Seng Index closed 17 points lower for the day; Alibaba rose over 3%, supporting the broader market, while Zhipu briefly breached the HK$1,000 mark.

Overnight (on the 17th), the three major U.S. stock indices closed lower by 0.3% to 0.5%, as renewed tensions in the Middle East pushed international oil prices up by more than 2%. This morning (on the 18th), the Hang Seng Index opened 84 points lower, with losses widening to over 200 points at one stage. However, Hong Kong stocks reversed course in the afternoon, with the Hang Seng Index closing slightly higher by 17 points, or 0.07%, at 25,471 points. Total market turnover for the day amounted to HK$255.541 billion. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index closed up 13 points, or 0.16%, at 8,453 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 42 points, or 0.9%, to close at 4,739 points. Alibaba-W (09988.HK) supported the broader market.

AASTOCKSAug 18 16:36

CNOOC Stock Rallies 2.1% in Hong Kong

Dow JonesAug 18 16:32