SINGAPORE, June 4 (Reuters) - Asian stocks fell at the

start of trading on Thursday as renewed fighting between the

U.S. and Iran rattled stocks, even as conflicting signs of

de-escalation left investors hesitant.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan

was down 0.8%, while S&P 500 e-mini futures

slipped 0.4%. Korean shares reopened down 2% after a

holiday, while Japan's Nikkei 225 slumped 1.3%.

"Financial markets shifted back into a risk-off mode as the

U.S. and Iran exchanged fire again," analysts from Westpac wrote

in a research report.

Stocks on Wall Street tumbled overnight, with the S&P 500

falling 0.7% and oil prices rising around 2% as

hostilities in the Middle East erupted anew and talks between

Tehran and Washington showed little progress.

Traders looked through a better-than-expected U.S. ISM

services sector PMI print, which rose in May as businesses

preemptively placed orders and rebuilt inventories in

anticipation of shortages and higher prices because of the war.

Brent crude futures were 0.7% lower at $97.12 a

barrel as trading resumed on Thursday after Lebanon and Israel

agreed to implement a ceasefire, which is contingent on a

complete cessation of fire from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah

militia and the evacuation of all its operatives from the South

Litani Sector. The two sides had agreed last month to a

ceasefire but hostilities had continued.

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives approved a

war powers resolution on Wednesday to block President Donald

Trump from continuing the conflict against Iran. The measure is

largely symbolic as it must still pass the Senate and would need

a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override an almost

certain presidential veto.

"Geopolitics continue to drive volatility and as conflicting

signals dampen hopes for a quick solution to the conflict,"

analysts from ING wrote in a research report.

Broadcom shares plunged more than 13% in extended trading

after missing Wall Street expectations for second-quarter

revenue on Wednesday, while its top executive left a previous

2027 sales forecast unchanged, in a rare sign that the AI

chipmaker may be losing steam.

In the currency markets, the yen was down 0.1% at

159.945 yen per dollar after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda

said on Wednesday the central bank must discuss the pros and

cons of raising interest rates if inflationary risks outweigh

downside risks to the economy, in remarks that point to a strong

chance of a rate hike this month.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback's

strength against a basket of six currencies, held steady at

99.45 after a three-day rally which took the currency to its

strongest level since April 7.

The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury bond was down 0.4

basis point at 4.485%.

Gold rose 0.5% to $4,455.71, firmly within the

trading channel it has sat in since the middle of last month.

Bitcoin fell 1.3% to $64,047.39, while ether

rose 1.8% to $1,810.83.