- Oil prices climb -

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

International benchmark Brent crude closed up 3.2 percent in US trading to $103.42 per barrel, while US benchmark WTI rose 2.9 percent to $96.21.

- 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.

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.

Mohamed Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, however, warned that the strait "won't return to its pre-war status."

- 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 through which roughly a fifth of global oil and natural gas passes.

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, Trump accused NATO allies of making a "foolish mistake" by refusing to help.

- Germany to probe energy firms -

Germany said Tuesday its competition watchdog will soon get more powers to target energy firms over concerns they are unfairly hiking petrol prices to profit from the wartime oil shock.

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.

- Fujairah attack -

A 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.

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.

- 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 north, 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 broke out.

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.

- Airlines to make tough choices -

US carriers will face tough challenges in the months ahead if jet fuel prices stay high, but for now consumers are still booking trips in numbers, airline CEOs said Tuesday.

Scandinavian airline SAS, however, said it would cancel at least a thousand flights in April over the fuel price surges.

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