Israel conflict could stoke greater volatility, inflationary pressures for crude oil, stock markets

THE Israel-Hamas conflict could roil stock markets around the world, with market watchers warning of greater volatility and more inflationary pressures. 

Observers polled by The Business Times urged investors to pay close attention to crude oil prices in tandem with heightened geopolitical risks, even though the overall impact on oil prices is expected to be fairly limited. 

Oil prices spiked on Monday (Oct 9), following news of a surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.