The short-term focus again was oil prices, which swung sharply as investors weighed Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia against Reuters reporting that mediators had passed Iran a proposal to de-escalate the war with the U.S. Benchmark Brent crude was flat on the day at $88.3 a barrel, having earlier climbed above $90 for the first time in more than a month.

SYDNEY, July 20 : Asian share markets were hesitant on Monday as the escalating conflict in the Gulf lifted oil prices and fanned fears of inflation, while a packed week of major…

SYDNEY/LONDON, July 20 : The escalating conflict in the Gulf lifted oil and gas prices on Monday, fanning fears of inflation, sending bonds lower and leaving stocks on edge as a…

Oil prices softened on Tuesday as markets weighed mediation efforts. Fresh attacks between the United States and Iran also influenced market sentiment. Yemen's Houthis threatened…

Investors brace for corporate earnings