Global stocks retreat as oil climbs

Tuesday, 19 May 2026 02:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Global share markets slipped on Monday as fresh drone attacks in the Gulf pushed oil prices and bond yields higher, stoking inflation worries.

Brent was trading up about 1.2% at about $110.55 a barrel, while U.S. crude climbed 1.4% to $102.48. Crucially, futures for September traded above $100 and December hit a contract high as markets braced for protracted shortages.

European stocks fell 0.4%. Major markets in Frankfurt and London both edged up, while those in Paris fell 0.9%.

S&P 500 futures fell 0.5% and NASDAQ futures lost 0.5%.

Overnight, Japan’s Nikkei eased 1%, having fallen 2% last week from record highs. South Korean stocks rose 0.3%, as Samsung Electronics gained almost 4% after a court issued a partial injunction against a union strike.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.6%. Chinese blue chips lost 0.5% as economic data disappointed.