Trump's new Iran threats rattle marketsRECAP: Most Asian equities fell and oil prices rose yesterday after Donald Trump ratcheted up Middle East tensions by hinting at possible military strikes on Iran if it did not make a "meaningful deal" in nuclear talks. The remarks put the brakes on a rebound in markets following an AI-fuelled sell-off earlier. Retail investors were net sellers of 9.69 billion baht, followed by institutional investors at 4.08 billion. The US posted a record $1.24-trillion trade deficit in goods in 2025, up 2.1% from the previous year. The US trade deficit with China shrank in 2025 to the smallest in more than two decades at about $202 billion as Trump's sweeping tariffs reordered global trade.

Source: Bangkok Post February 20, 2026 23:09 UTC