Global shares are mostly lower as investors focus on the Iran war's impact on energy supplies

Market Overview - Global shares mostly declined due to concerns over energy supply threats from the Iran war [1] - U.S. futures also fell, with the S&P 500 down 1.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.6% [2] Regional Market Performance - In early European trading, France's CAC 40 dropped 2.2% to 8,207.10, Germany's DAX sank 2.9% to 23,935.62, and Britain's FTSE 100 declined 2.2% to 10,546.30 [2] - South Korea's Kospi plunged 7.2% to 5,791.91 as markets reopened after a holiday [2] - Japan's Nikkei 225 sank 3.1% to finish at 56,279.05, with concerns over oil supply impacting resource-poor countries [3] Oil Prices - Benchmark U.S. crude rose by $3.24 to $74.47 per barrel, while Brent crude increased by $3.56 to $81.30 per barrel [3] - Analysts noted that Japan has a sizable stockpile of oil lasting more than 200 days, mitigating immediate threats [4] Airline Industry Impact - Airline stocks, including American Airlines, United, and Delta, were among the biggest losers due to rising fuel costs and airport closures [5] - In Asia, ANA stock fell 3.3%, Japan Airlines dropped 6.4%, Korean Air declined 10.3%, and Qantas Airways lost 1.8% [6] Historical Context - Past military conflicts in the Middle East have not led to long-term declines in U.S. stocks, with significant oil price increases needed to cause sustained market impacts [7] - Historical data shows that energy shocks do not automatically derail equities unless they are severe and sustained [8]