- Stock markets diverge, oil gains after China rebounds
- Nadal defied injury woes in record-breaking career
- Nadal v Djokovic, French Open, 2006: Chapter One in epic rivalry
- World can't 'waste time' trading climate change blame: COP29 hosts
- Pakistan at 23-1 after Brook triple hundred takes England to 823-7
- Zelensky meets Starmer, Rutte on whirlwind tour of Europe
- South Korean same-sex couples make push for marriage equality
- Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career
- Mumbai declares day of mourning for Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- Philippines confronts China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet
- Kim Sei-young shoots 62 to take two-stroke lead at LPGA Shanghai
- The haircuts that help traumatised Ukrainian soldiers heal
- Sinner crushes Medvedev to set up potential Alcaraz Shanghai semi
- 7-Eleven owner restructures to fight takeover
- England's Harry Brook blasts triple century against Pakistan
- Chinese electric car companies cope with European tariffs
- Zelensky in London for whirlwind tour of Europe ahead of US vote
- Sri Lanka recovering faster than expected: World Bank
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as most markets track Wall St record
- Record-breaking Root, Brook both pass 200 as England pile up 658-3
- Football mourns Greek defender George Baldock's shock death at 31
- Uniqlo owner reports record annual earnings
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as markets track Wall St record
- Indonesia biomass drive threatens key forests: report
- Home is far away for Madagascar in AFCON qualifying
- Two months on, Donbas soldiers begin to question Kursk offensive
- Rugby Australia to counter-sue in dispute with Melbourne Rebels
- Mumbai mourns Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- Philippines challenges China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet
- Mets advance on Lindor blast, Dodgers stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Injury-ravaged Krygios aiming to return at Australian Open
- Greek international Baldock, dead at 31: family
- EU talks deportation hubs to stem migration
- Deaths and repression sideline Suu Kyi's party ahead of Myanmar vote
- S. Africa offers a lesson on how not to shut down a coal plant
- China opens $71 bn 'swap facility' to boost markets
- Mets advance on Lindor grand slam, Yankees and Tigers win
- Taiwan President Lai vows to 'resist annexation' of island
- China's solar goes from supremacy to oversupply
- Asian markets track Wall St record as Hong Kong, Shanghai stabilise
- 'Denying my potential': women at Japan's top university call out gender imbalance
- China's central bank says opens up $70.6 bn in liquidity to boost market
- Zelensky on whirlwind tour of Europe ahead of US vote
- Youth facing unprecedented wave of violence, UN envoy warns
- 'A casino in every kitchen': Brazil's online gambling craze
- Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
- Lindor powers Mets past Phillies into NL Championship Series
- Wildlife populations plunge 73% since 1970: WWF
- 'Sleeper agent' bots on X fuel US election misinformation, study says
- Death toll rises to 109 after Haiti gang attack, official says
Oil sinks on de-escalation hopes despite Iran strike
World oil prices sank Monday as traders bet on de-escalation in the Middle East despite a strike on Israel by key crude producer Iran.
Brent and WTI prices shed one percent while global stock markets diverged.
Iran late on Saturday unleashed more than 300 ballistic and cruise missiles and attack drones -- which were mostly repelled by air defences -- in retaliation for Israel's bombing of its Syrian consulate earlier this month.
Tehran said the aerial strike was a legitimate defensive response to the deadly attack in Damascus, adding that "the matter can be deemed concluded".
Israel, the United States and other allies intercepted nearly all launches in the attack -- which had been widely trailed and was the first direct Iranian military action against arch foe Israel.
Haven investment gold held firm Monday after reaching a record peak of $2,431.52 before the weekend.
The dollar steadied after touching a 34-year high against the yen.
"The market sees de-escalation as the most likely path despite the Iranian strike," noted analysts at DNB Markets.
"The attack was well announced, with Israel and its allies fully prepared, it caused minor damage and no casualties, and with Iran quickly out saying that 'the matter can be deemed concluded'. A clear invitation to de-escalate."
Experts said the limited scope of the attack showed Iran was seeking to make a show of strength with its attack, but without sparking a conflict.
US President Joe Biden was reported to have cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "take the win" and forego a counterattack.
Nevertheless, Asian equities mostly fell Monday on fears of a broader conflict in the volatile Middle East, although Shanghai stocks jumped higher on news of fresh regulatory measures that could help its long-term performance.
"All eyes remain on whether there will be any response from Israel and markets will likely be volatile in the day ahead to any geopolitical headlines," said Saxo analyst Redmond Wong.
And in Europe, London equities lost ground, but Frankfurt and Paris both rallied as data showed a strong turnaround in eurozone industrial production for February.
Traders meanwhile remain worried about the outlook for US interest rates following more forecast-beating inflation and jobs data.
- Key figures around 1050 GMT -
Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.0 percent at $89.54 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0 percent at $84.79 per barrel
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,954.88 points
Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 8,060.58
Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.8 percent at 18,073.06
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.9 percent at 4,999.15
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 39,232.80 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 16,600.46 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.3 percent at 3,057.38 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 1.2 percent at 37,983.24 (close)
Dollar/yen: UP at 153.89 yen from 153.24 yen on Friday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0657 from $1.0645
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2486 from $1.2449
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.37 pence from 85.48 pence
burs-rfj/bcp/rl
O.M.Souza--AMWN