European stocks dip as Iran-UAE conflict escalates, oil prices jittery amid war fears

European stock markets are expected to open mostly lower following renewed tensions in the Middle East, with the U.K.'s FTSE flat and Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 down 0.4%. The escalation comes after Iran attacked the UAE with drones and missiles, and the U.S. responded by sinking Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments have unsettled global markets, causing stock indices to fall sharply and oil prices to rise due to fears the conflict could prolong, potentially triggering a global recession. Investors are also watching earnings reports from major companies like Anheuser-Busch InBev and HSBC, which recently posted slightly missed profit estimates.