Global Market Today: Oil rises, Asian stocks steady as US strikes Iran

Brent crude rose 2.3 percent to around $76 a barrel after the US launched fresh airstrikes on Iran and revoked a waiver that had allowed Iranian oil to be sold globally. MSCI Asia Pacific Index was steady after an early dip, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.3 percent; a gauge of US chip stocks had fallen over 4 percent on Tuesday with the Nasdaq 100 sliding 1.8 percent. Analysts warned the geopolitical escalation could revive energy-market disruption and strengthen the case for central bank rate hikes via second-round inflation risks, while gold climbed above $4,100 an ounce and the dollar index added 0.1 percent.