Equities struggle, oil extends gains on Middle East worries

Hong Kong (AFP) April 5, 2024

Stocks fell Friday and oil extended the previous day's surge on worries that Israel's war with Hamas could widen to a regional conflict with Iran as both sides ratcheted up tensions. The threat of regional war compounded fears that the Federal Reserve would not cut interest rates as much as previously expected, with focus now on the release of key US jobs data later in the day. The sell-