Oil prices drop awaiting Mideast peace progress

Oil prices fell and global stock markets traded mixed Thursday awaiting an update on a US plan to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Having plunged more than 10 percent at one point Wednesday on peace hopes, crude futures fell far less sharply Thursday, with losses of around two percent.European stock markets declined after big gains the previous session, while leading Asian markets climbed. Tokyo soared 5.6 percent, which largely reflected resumption of trading in Japan aft...