Central bank has struggled to convey clear sense of direction for monetary policy as key indicators fluctuate, economists warn

A sustained rise in the price of crude oil, which jumped sharply after Israel attacked Iran, could hurt consumers and President Trump’s efforts to bring down energy costs.

Rather, it is geopolitical factors—specifically, escalating tensions in the Middle East—that are unsettling markets and pushing prices higher.

A sustained surge in oil prices is likely to complicate the U.S. fight against inflation. A $10-a-barrel increase would boost year-over-year growth in the Consumer Price Index by 0.5 percentage points,

The dollar's recent appreciation on the Israel-Iran conflict is likely mainly due to the oil-price rally as opposed to its safe-haven role, Commerzbank's Thu Lan Nguyen said in a note. "The dollar benefits from a rise in oil prices,

Although the U.S. is a net oil exporter, higher oil prices could increase inflation and lower economic growth.

FTSE 100 futures are about flat, after the index skirted the worst of a small selloff on Friday, and oil prices have cooled from an earlier spike but remain higher.

Forbes Global 2000, but over half lost ground due to falling oil prices and weak refining margins, with BP dropping 374 spots.