San Francisco Frontiers - Oil prices hit by easing Middle East fears, most Asian markets rise

The sell-off came as the commodity is also hit by worries about China's economic outlook after Beijing failed to announce any new stimulus at a weekend briefing.

Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks tumbled again after traders were left disappointed by a lack of detail in a raft of measures announced last week to boost China's economy.

However, most other Asian markets ended higher after another record close for the Dow and S&P 500 on Wall Street, with the third-quarter reporting season about to get underway.

Both main oil contracts dropped more than four percent -- having lost at least two percent Monday -- after the Washington Post reported that Netanyahu had pledged to target Iran's military rather than its crude and nuclear sector.

Investors have been on edge since Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel at the start of the month, fuelling concerns of a response that could spark a region-wide conflict.

The commodity has swung wildly in recent weeks after Tel Aviv opened a new front against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, while also continuing its battle against Hamas in Gaza.

Netanyahu on Monday vowed to hit Hezbollah without mercy, a day after the Iran-backed group's deadliest strike on Israel since the start of their war in late September.

If the response is "non-escalatory -- (for example) tit-for-tat rockets aimed into the desert -- then it looks bearish for oil," said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Finalto trading group.

"If it's a full-on strike aimed at national energy infrastructure then it would seem way more escalatory."

Adding to the downward pressure on oil is concern that China would struggle to reignite the world's second-biggest economy after a much-anticipated news conference on Saturday left investors wanting.

There had been hope Finance Minister Lan Fo'an would unveil a multi-billion-dollar package of support including fiscal help to go alongside measures announced in September that largely focused on the troubled property sector.

The disappointment, which came after another briefing that fell short last Tuesday, has dampened a rally on Chinese markets, with Hong Kong and Shanghai paring the blockbuster surge that greeted the initial batch of stimulus.

Weaker-than-expected trade and inflation data for September highlighted the need for economic help, though analysts warned they did not see any details being released until an upcoming Communist Party meeting that has yet to be set.

Key figures later in the week, including on retail sales, trade and economic growth, could provide a fresh update on the state of the country's finances.

"Everywhere you look, China is in desperate need for fiscal support, with very weak domestic demand alongside an economy facing deflationary pressures and softer global demand," said Rodrigo Catril at National Australia Bank.

Hong Kong fell more than three percent Tuesday and Shanghai lost more than two percent, though there were gains in Tokyo as traders there returned from a three-day weekend.

Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta also rose, though Mumbai edged down.

London and Paris were also down though Frankfurt gained.

- Key figures around 0810 GMT -

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 4.3 percent at $70.68 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 4.1 percent at $74.28 per barrel

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 3.7 percent at 20,318.79 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.5 percent at 3,201.29 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 39,910.55 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percen at 8,271.63

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0903 from $1.0911 on Monday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3079 from $1.3060

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.07 yen from 149.74 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.41 pence from 83.51 pence

New York - Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 43,065.22 points (close)

Y.Harris--SFF