Asian shares were mixed and oil prices advanced Wednesday after the escalation of conflict in the Middle East hit Wall Street. U.S. benchmark crude oil was up 24 cents at $73.51 per barrel. Brent crude,

Oil prices ticked up in early trading on Wednesday after ending the previous session up more than 4% on worries that the Iran-Israel conflict could disrupt supplies.

U.S. oil prices already jumped last week, which could cause prices at the pump to rise about 20 cents a gallon in the coming weeks, according to one estimate.