Today's Edition
London (AFP)
Oil prices wobbled and stock markets wavered on Monday as traders awaited Tehran's response to US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
US and European stocks retreated while Asian equities were mixed.
When trading opened on Monday, international benchmark crude contract Brent and US equivalent WTI both jumped more than four percent to hit their highest price since January.
They later dipped briefly into the red and then wobbled, standing up 0.3 percent as Wall Street opened for trading.
Tensions remained elevated however as Iran and Israel intensified attacks on each other on the war's 11th day.
Wall Street stocks opened slightly lower, with the S&P 500 index slipping 0.1 percent.
In Europe, sentiment on the Paris and Frankfurt stock markets was also hit by a closely watched survey that showed eurozone business activity was almost stagnant again in June.
London's stock exchange was lower with shares in airlines, including EasyJet and British Airways-owner IAG, suffering losses on fears of rising energy costs and disruptions in travel.
In Asia, Tokyo was lower while Hong Kong and Shanghai gained.
The dollar rose against other currencies but analysts questioned to what extent this would hold out.
