The escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, rising inflation, and surging oil prices have shaken global markets. The conflict could disrupt global oil supplies, as the Middle East accounts for about one-third of global oil production. In the US, inflation figures exceeded expectations, with the Producer Price Index surging 2.2% YoY and the Consumer Price Index inflation rising by 3.7% YoY. This has led to a spike in 30-year mortgage rates and a dip in consumer sentiment. Despite this, the Fed signals another rate hike is still possible. M&A activity picked up with Exxon Mobil acquiring Pioneer Resources and Microsoft purchasing Activision Blizzard. The week also saw strong Q3 earnings from major banks.