Nikkei 225 in bear market territory

Japan’s Nikkei 225 sees further selling, plunging the index into bear market territory while the South Korean KOSPI is on track for its worst session since the Covid pandemic. The Nasdaq suffers its worst 3-week run since September 2022 as non-farm payroll data disappoints. Berkshire Hathaway dumps close to half of its Apple shares to boost its coffers to a record $270bn. In the Middle East, Israel readies itself for possible retaliation from Iran following the suspected assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.