The dollar strengthened against global peers as Middle East tensions escalated. Oil prices surged and investor confidence remained fragile after last week's market turbulence. Geopolitical concerns and semiconductor valuation worries weighed on market sentiment. Federal Reserve officials are debating potential interest rate increases to combat inflation. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether saw modest gains in early trading.

(Bloomberg) -- Oil gained in early trading after US and Iran attacks escalated over the weekend, adding further pressure on Asian markets already rattled by a slump in chip stocks.

The dollar strengthened against global peers as Middle East tensions escalated. Oil prices surged and investor confidence remained fragile after last week's market turbulence.…