Iran oil threat buoys crude, curbs shares

LONDON (Reuters) - Iran's threat to stop the flow of oil from the Gulf supported crude prices on Wednesday and put world shares on the back foot, while looming Italian debt auctions hampered the euro. Tehran said on Tuesday it would stop oil transiting through the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions were imposed on its crude exports over its nuclear ambitions, a move that could conceivably trigger military conflict with economies dependent on Gulf oil. Brent crude oil steadied above $109 a barrel after climbing more than a dollar in the previous session. ...