U.S. stock indexes climbed and oil fell from last week's highs on Monday after conflict between Israel and Iran left crude production and exports unaffected, while investors stayed braced for a week packed with central bank meetings.

Given this divergence, natural gas stocks present a compelling investment opportunity compared to oil-focused companies. Antero Resources (AR) and EQT (EQT), with their strong asset bases and strategic positioning, stand out as top picks to capitalize on this trend.

About 21mn barrels of oil from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates pass daily through the narrow waterway separating the Islamic republic from the Gulf states, representing about one-third of the world’s seaborne oil supplies.

Oil fell on signs Saudi Arabia wants another major production increase, raising expectations that a glut of crude will form this year. West Texas Intermediate slid 0.9% to settle below $63 a ...

Russia’s proceeds from oil in the state budget shrank last month to the lowest since June 2023 as global crude prices declined.