Iran fired missiles at Israel, sparking a fresh flare in the Middle East cease‑fire that had paused two months ago. The attack followed Israel’s strike on Beirut outskirts targeting Hezbollah. Investors brace for renewed tension as the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil corridor, risks disruption. Oil makers react immediately.

Brent crude leapt 3 percent to $96 a barrel, while U.S. WTI climbed 4 percent to about $94. Asian equities fell, with South Korea’s KOSPI sliding 8 percent before a trading halt. Japan’s Nikkei dropped 3 percent, reflecting investors’ retreat from AI‑driven growth stocks amid geopolitical risk. The sudden shift rattled portfolios that had leaned heavily on technology gains, forcing a reevaluation of risk exposure across the region today.

Gasoline prices eased to a national average of $4.17 a gallon, yet they have risen 40 percent since the war began. Diesel followed a similar trend, up 42 percent. The market now watches how quickly supply chains will normalize after the heightened tensions, as any delay could push oil prices higher again for investors looking for stable energy markets through the week.