The Australian share market has started the week on the back foot as conflict in the Middle East ratchets up oil prices and the odds of more interest rate hikes.
The main S&P/ASX200 index fell 33.4 points by midday, down 0.39 per cent, to 8760.9, as the broader All Ordinaries dropped 28.6 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 8877.2.