Global markets started the week on an uneasy note as rising tensions in the Gulf pushed oil higher and added fresh pressure to stocks and bonds. Brent crude moved above $90 a barrel for the first time in more than a month, a jump that sharpened concerns about energy costs and the wider inflation outlook.
The move came as the United States continued military action against Iran for a ninth straight day, while Iran also struck targets across the region. That escalation raised worries that a broader disruption in the Gulf could keep oil elevated, making it harder for inflation to cool and complicating the outlook for interest rates.
Shares slipped alongside bonds as investors weighed the risk that higher energy prices could ripple through the global economy. Markets were already facing uncertainty over growth and borrowing costs, and the latest rise in crude added another source of volatility for traders watching inflation-sensitive assets.
At the same time, attention is turning to a busy stretch of earnings from major technology companies tied to the AI boom. Those results are expected to be a key test of whether strong demand for artificial intelligence can keep supporting markets even as geopolitical risks and higher oil prices unsettle investor sentiment.
