Global markets waver as Iran sanctions uncertainty weighs on sentiment

Global equity markets slipped into negative territory on Monday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of expected announcements on US Iran sanctions policy. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's pending statement on the matter weighed on sentiment, prompting traders to reduce exposure to volatile assets and commodities sensitive to geopolitical risk.

Crude oil prices declined on the day, retreating from recent highs as market participants braced for potential policy announcements that could affect supply dynamics in the Middle East. The prospect of fresh sanctions created uncertainty among energy traders, though markets remained relatively stable given the lack of immediate clarity on implementation details.

In the technology sector, attention remained focused on Nvidia's upcoming quarterly results, with investors eager to gauge the semiconductor giant's performance amid strong demand for artificial intelligence-related chips. The earnings announcement was expected to provide direction for the broader tech-heavy indices that have driven much of the recent market rally across Asia-Pacific exchanges.

Markets in the region remained responsive to broader global cues, with Malaysian equities tracking international sentiment. Analysts noted that any concrete policy announcements on Iran sanctions could provide clearer direction for energy and geopolitical risk positioning in the week ahead.