ISTANBUL European stock markets closed in negative territory Monday as escalating tensions in the Middle East and a sharp rise in oil prices weighed on investor sentiment. Global markets were shaken after oil prices surged, with Brent crude briefly climbing back toward the $100 level and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rising 5% to $95.81 per barrel. The spike in energy prices was triggered after major producers including Kuwait, Iran and the United Arab Emirates cut production