U.S. stocks closed higher on Monday, as oil prices retreated after the Israel-Iran attacks left crude production and exports unaffected, easing investor concerns about the potential for higher energy prices to stoke inflation.

We also discuss how China is maintaining a strong grip over rare earths, despite U.S. and China trade officials striking a deal last week in London.

When the conflict began on June 13, it led to a significant surge in oil prices. But come June 17, and all gains have been erased. Oil, which was trading north of $75 on June 13, was quoted at $69.77 at press time.

NEW YORK (AP) — Some calm is returning to Wall Street, and U.S. stocks are rising on Monday, while oil prices are giving back some of their initial spurts following Israel’s attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets at the end of last week.

Iran and Israel continued trading fire in a fourth day of armed escalations. "The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz pledged following reported Iranian strikes against Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Stock futures rebounded slightly early Monday as the spike in oil prices due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran eased for a moment. Stock gains were muted as investors remained concerned about the rising geopolitical risk to the global economy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says rising global oil prices following Israeli strikes on Iran will strengthen Russia by increasing its oil revenues, aiding its war effort in Ukraine.

Oil prices leaped, and stocks slumped on worries that escalating violence following Israel’s attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets could damage the flow of crude around the world, along with the global economy.