Stocks edge up in Asia, oil flat amid Middle East uncertainty

Shares edged higher while oil prices flatlined in Asia on Monday, as ​investors drew comfort from signs of patchy progress in settling the Middle East conflict at the start of a week packed with ‌earnings and key economic data. President Donald Trump said the United States would begin an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning, but gave no details of the plan. A statement from Central Command said support would include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft and 15,000 service members. Iran earlier said that the US had responded to its 14-point ​proposal via Pakistan and that it was reviewing the response, though Trump said it was unlikely to be acceptable. Brent crude futures were flat at $108.30 ​per barrel, having recovered from an initial drop of more than 2%, while US crude was steady at $102.01.