- Oil prices climb -

Oil prices rose again as Iran launched fresh attacks on crude-producing neighbours, while stock markets were higher ahead of key central bank meetings.

International benchmark Brent crude was up 3.4 percent in US trading to $103.59 per barrel, while US benchmark WTI rose 2.9 percent to $96.16.

- Iran vets friendly ships for Hormuz passage: trackers -

Iran is selecting ships from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade waterway cut off by the Middle East war, data trackers indicated.

Meanwhile, Iraq is in contact with Iran to try to arrange passage for some of its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the country's oil minister told local media.

- US does 'not need' help from allies on Iran, Trump says -

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that US forces "no longer need" military help in the Iran war, after his calls for assistance from allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic were largely rebuffed.

The American president has spent recent days griping about how world powers have so far declined to send warships to escort tankers through the narrow waterway in and out of the Gulf and key to the transit of crude.

France is ready to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz but only once the situation has become "calmer", President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

- German investment morale plummets -

Investor morale in Germany, Europe's largest economy, has plunged to its lowest level in almost a year as the Middle East war rattles markets, according to a survey by the ZEW economic research institute.

Sentiment among investors on the future of the German economy fell 58.8 points in the past month, the survey said, leaving it at its lowest level since Trump first imposed sweeping global tariffs last April.

- New Fujairah attack -

A new drone strike hit the Fujairah oil complex on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday causing a fire but no injuries, authorities said.

"Civil defence teams from the emirate intervened immediately on site and are continuing their efforts to bring the situation under control" authorities said in a statement on X.

The facility, which sits on the Gulf of Oman and enables the UAE to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for some exports, was also hit on Monday. A source told AFP that oil was no longer being loaded into storage tanks.

- Drone attack targets Iraqi oil field -

Two drones targeted a major southern Iraqi oil field, an oil ministry spokesperson told AFP, after the second attack in four days.

Majnoon oil field was "targeted by two drones, one hit a telecommunication tower," but there was no damage, ministry spokesperson Saheb Bazoun said.

A security official said the second drone targeted the offices of an American firm operating at the site.

- Australia hikes rates -

Australia's central bank hiked its key interest rate, pointing to "sharply higher fuel prices" driven by the Middle East war.

The Reserve Bank of Australia became one of the first major central banks to lift rates in response to the turmoil, raising its key cash rate 25 basis points to 4.10 percent.

- Thai petrol queues -

From the capital Bangkok to Chiang Rai in the far northern reaches of the country, drivers and riders in Thailand queued for petrol Tuesday as shortages worsened and price rises loomed.

Authorities imposed a cap on the retail price of diesel after the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupted shipping and damaged petroleum facilities in the Middle East, raising global oil prices.

Tuesday was the last day the 33 baht ($1) a litre limit remained in force, and while Thailand's transport minister said prices would go up by less than one baht on Wednesday, many feared bigger price rises within days.

- SAS cancels flights over fuel prices -

Scandinavian airline SAS said Tuesday it has cancelled around one hundred domestic flights this week after the war in the Middle East sent fuel prices surging.

burs-rl/giv