Asian Assets Slide as Mideast Strikes Spark Oil Spike, Haven Rush

ASIAN MARKET - JAKARTA. Emerging Asian stocks and currencies slid on Monday after weekend U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes in the region lifted oil prices and sparked a dash for havens such as the U.S. dollar, gold and sovereign debt.

The MSCI index of emerging Asian equities declined 1.4%, setting it up for its steepest drop in nearly a month, while MSCI's gauge of emerging-market currencies fell 0.6%, putting it on course for its weakest session in three years.