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.

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,

Asian shares are mixed and oil prices have advanced after the escalation of conflict in the Middle East hit Wall Street

The Pentagon is expanding its tactical options by using the tankers it just deployed to flow additional fighters into the region.