Oil rises to 6-month high on Iran, stocks fall: Markets Wrap

Group 1: Oil Market Dynamics - Oil prices rose to a six-month high, with benchmark Brent increasing by 0.5% to $72 a barrel, marking a weekly gain of over 6% [1] - The rise in oil prices is influenced by escalating tensions in Iran and the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, which could impact oil supply from a region that produces about a third of the world's oil [5][6] Group 2: Stock Market Reactions - Asian shares dropped by 0.4%, following declines on Wall Street, while U.S. and European equity-index futures showed a slight increase of 0.3%, indicating potential stabilization in sentiment [2] - Wall Street experienced declines, particularly among alternative asset managers, after Blue Owl Capital Inc. restricted withdrawals from one of its funds [6] Group 3: Geopolitical Risks and Economic Indicators - The U.S. military's actions in the Middle East introduce new geopolitical risks, halting a tentative recovery in equities and dampening risk appetite [3] - Traders are closely monitoring upcoming U.S. economic and inflation data, especially after recent Federal Reserve meeting minutes raised concerns about price pressures [7] Group 4: Currency Movements - The U.S. dollar is on track for its best week in four months, driven by reduced expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and increased demand for safe-haven assets due to geopolitical risks [8] - The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose by 0.9% this week, marking its largest gain since October, influenced by heightened inflation concerns and the military buildup in the Persian Gulf [9]