Shares have opened lower in Europe after mostly gaining in Asia. Crude prices headed higher early Wednesday as traders watched for a possible release of international oil reserves. U.S. futures declined. Oil prices have stayed below their peaks hit earlier in the week after plunging from nearly $120 per barrel late Monday on hopes for a quick end to the war. But both sides sharpened their rhetoric as the war entered its 11th day and crude prices climbed more than 5% to about $90 a barrel. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 dipped 0.2% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite edged less than 0.1% higher.
