In Asian trading, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 1.0% to finish at 38,488.34. Shares in Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp. jumped 2.3% after it announced that its acquisition of U.S. Steel, which met U.S. government opposition for more than a year, was finally completed.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares retreated Thursday as worries persisted about conflict in the Middle East. Ratcheting up tensions, President Donald Trump warned of the possibility of getting directly involved in the conflict with Israel, while Iran’s supreme leader rejected U.S. calls for surrender. Oil prices and U.S. futures declined.

(Reuters) -European shares opened lower on Thursday as persistent Middle East tensions and fears of possible U.S. involvement kept investors on edge. The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.6% at 537.23 points at 0707 GMT.