Global Markets React to Economic Data and Middle East Tensions

U.S. stock markets closed in the red as concerns over interest rate hikes and the Israel-Hamas conflict weighed on investor sentiment. Asian markets followed suit, with Japan's Nikkei 225, Australia's S&P/ASX 200, and China's Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen CSI 300 all closing lower. European markets also experienced declines, with the STOXX 600 index, Germany's DAX, France's CAC, and the UK's FTSE 100 all trading in negative territory. Crude oil prices cooled off slightly, while gold dipped below $2,000 per ounce. US futures were also down, and the US Dollar Index edged higher.