Chinese shares opened lower on Friday as market appetite for equities continued to wane in the wake of further U.S. airstrikes against Iran.
The Shanghai Composite Index, the main gauge of Chinese stocks, opened 0.4% lower at 3,865.32. The Shenzhen Component Index plummeted 0.9% to 14,348.22.
Conflict in the Middle East continued to dampen risk appetite among investors, with escalations in the region keeping crude oil prices elevated and driving fears that higher energy-driven inflation could delay or reverse rate cuts by major central banks.
The U.S. launched fresh strikes against Iran on Thursday night to "further degrade Iranian military capabilities." Iran's foreign affairs ministry said the U.S. is committing "war crimes" for targeting civilian infrastructure in its strikes.