US energy companies' shares gain as Middle East crisis sparks supply fears

Iran's missile attack on Israel, and Washington's full backing of its ally on a response against Tehran, sent markets into a risk-off mode. Safe-haven currencies like Japan's yen and Swiss franc saw strong bids, along with oil and defense stocks. U.S. energy majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron rose 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. Major oil and gas producers ConocoPhillips, Occidental Petroleum and Devon Energy gained between 1.5% and 1.9% while oilfield services firm SLB and Halliburton both rose about 2% each. Analysts expect the market to remain "jittery" as investors await Israel's retaliation and the resultant impact on supply (Read more at Zawya).