Global Markets: Shares swept new year gains, gold, oil prices jumps on US and Iran trade threats

Tensions escalate in the Middle East after the killing of Iranian commander of Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani by the USA erased new year gains on Monday as investors pushed safe-haven gold to a seven-year high, and oil jumped to its highest since September.

The United States detected a heightened state of alert by Iran's missile forces, as President Donald Trump warned the US would strike back, "perhaps in a disproportionate manner", if Iran attacked any American person or target.

Iraq's parliament on Sunday recommended all foreign troops be ordered out of the country after the US killing of the Iranian military commander and an Iraqi militia leader in a drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport.

Spot gold gained 1.6 per cent to $1,579.72 per ounce in jittery trade to reach its highest since April 2013.

Oil prices extended gains on fears any Middle East conflict could disrupt global supplies.

Brent crude futures rose 2.04 per cent to $70 a barrel, while US crude climbed 1.7 per cent to $64.12.

European shares extended losses and were set for their worst day in a week, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index down 1.12 per cent by 0838 GMT. The European oil and gas stock index rose about 0.74 per cent and was the sole gainer among its peers, hitting its highest since July.

Watch: Equities crash on US-Iran tensions, Nifty sinks below 12,100

"Geopolitical events by their nature are unpredictable, but previous periods of increased tensions suggest that the impact on wider markets tends to be short-lived, with more lasting effects confined to local markets," said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management.

"In general, this supports holding a diversified portfolio."

MSCI's All-Country World Index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was down 0.43 per cent, erasing all its new year gains in its biggest two-day fall since early December.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei slid almost 2 per cent in a sour return from holiday, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.7 per cent.

Chinese shares, which had opened in the red, reversed their losses, as did Australian shares which ended the day flat. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 0.8 per cent.

Sovereign bonds benefited from the safety bid with yields on 10-year Treasuries down at 1.7725 per cent having fallen 10 basis points on Friday.

The yen remained the favoured safe haven among currencies thanks to Japan's massive holdings of foreign assets. Investors assume Japanese funds would repatriate their money during a truly global crisis, pushing the yen higher.

"Iran is almost certainly to respond in some scale, scope and magnitude," said Lee Hardman, currency analyst at MUFG.

Therefore "market participants are likely to remain nervous until there is more clarity over how geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran will proceed", Hardman said, noting that geopolitical tensions could hurt global economic growth, especially if the price of oil increases.

On Monday, the dollar was last at 107.965 yen, after falling to a three-month trough of 107.77 earlier in the session. The euro likewise eased to 120.61 yen having hit a three-week low.

The dollar was steadier against other majors, with the euro a tad firmer at $1.1172. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was holding at 96.839.

The risk-sensitive currencies of Australia and New Zealand were on track for their fourth straight session of losses.