An oil tanker is moored at the Keiyo Sea-Berth in Sodegaura, Chiba prefecture on on July 22, 2026. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
Main oil contract Brent North Sea surged toward $100 a barrel on Thursday as Tehran-backed Houthi rebels targeted Red Sea shipping, raising fears that the Middle East war is widening.
Most Asian stock markets were buoyed by a much-needed bounce for regional tech firms as investor appetite for artificial intelligence (AI) seesaws.
European markets were weaker, with London, Paris and Frankfurt all falling in midday trading.
The dollar firmed against its main rivals.
