A key concern for markets would center around the potential impact of the developments in the Middle East on oil prices and thus on inflation.

Oil prices touched a five-month high before erasing gains on Monday as oil and gas transit continued on tankers from the Middle East after U.S. airstrikes against Iran at the weekend. Brent crude futures were down 22 cents,

It was not immediately clear what the energy department could do to boost oil and gas drilling, which hit record highs during the previous administration of former President Joe B