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Financial markets muddled through the first two months of the year. Then came the war in Iran.

With crude oil surpassing $100 a barrel, stopgap measures are helping, but they're not adding up to enough oil to replace what's stranded, experts say.

Stocks are rushing higher worldwide, and oil prices are easing April 1 as hopes build that the war with Iran could end soon.

The move comes as Unilever agreed to combine its food business with spice maker McCormick in a $44.8 billion deal.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell 0.3% to $107.10. Benchmark U.S. crude slipped 0.3%.

The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Airport wait times in Houston and Atlanta have eased after Transportation Security Administration officers received most of their missed pay. 

So far in March, barely six vessels per day on average have traversed the strait. That compares with about 135 a day in normal times.

President Donald Trump on March 30 threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources if a deal to end the war with Tehran is not reached soon.

Swiss food giant Nestlé says the cargo was stolen after leaving its production site in Italy last week for Poland.