FLASH
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Oil prices fell and stock markets rose on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a deal with Iran to end the war was close, even as attacks continued across the Middle East.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 4.8% to $99.5 a barrel. WTI, the U.S. benchmark, fell 4.6% to $88 a barrel.
In stock markets, Japan's Nikkei led gains in Asia, closing 2.9% higher. In Europe, stocks rose in London, Paris and Frankfurt. U.S. futures also pointed to a stronger open.
The positive reaction in financial markets to a possible de-escalation in the conflict, despite skepticism from Iranian officials, "suggests that the ball is still largely seen in the US court," Thomas Mathews, head of Asia-Pacific markets at Capital Economics, wrote in a note on Tuesday.
Trump went from threatening to attack Iranian power plants on Saturday to touting "productive talks" with Tehran on Monday. Washington has also sent Iran a 15-point peace proposal, via Pakistan, with talks between the warring parties scheduled for later this week in Islamabad.
But Iranian officials have expressed doubts about Washington's intentions and initially denied that any dialogue had taken place. An Iranian source told CNN on Tuesday that Tehran was willing to listen to "viable" proposals to end the war.
However, Iran has said it will continue to charge ships a fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, usually a channel for about a fifth of global oil supply.
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