Global Daily: Democracy Manifest

US stocks defied a strong lead from Europe and Asia on Friday to close broadly in the red. IT, telecommunications and the consumer discretionary sector led declines while energy, materials and consumer staples performed well. Oil prices surged following further reports of attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran claiming that two tankers carrying up to 4 million barrels of crude were struck by marine mines. The BBC reports UKMTO figures noting that the number of ships being attacked in and around the Strait hit a new high of 12 vessels in the week to the 11th of October.