European stocks and US futures have fallen slightly as oil prices rose for a third session as fresh hostilities flared in the Gulf after US-Iran peace talks stalled.
Europe's STOXX 600 index was down 0.4 per cent in early trading on Wednesday while futures for the US S&P 500 slipped 0.1 per cent.
The AI bull run pushed on unimpeded in Asia, however, where stock indices climbed to record highs in Japan and Taiwan.