Indian refiners tumble as crude surges on widening Iran war
March 9 (Reuters): Shares of Indian refiners slumped on Monday, as the widening U.S.-Israeli war with Iran propelled Brent crude prices toward $120 per barrel – a near four-year high – threatening their near-term earnings. State-run Indian Oil (IOC.NS), dipped 6.6%, Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL.NS), slid 7.5% and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL.NS), dropped 7.1%, and were headed for their steepest falls in more than a year.Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), lost 2%. Brent crude soared as much as 26.4% to $117.16 a barrel and was last up 23% at $114.08 by 9:15 a.m. IST. UBS said oil marketing companies are “negatively leveraged” to the