Pakistan, Jan. 6 -- Oil prices surged, gold hit a more than six-year high and most equities tumbled Monday after the US assassination

last week of a top Iranian general fanned fears of a major conflict in the Middle East.

Donald Trump warned of a "major retaliation" against Tehran after it threatened revenge for the killing Friday of commander Qasem Soleimani, which shocked world markets and sparked a sell-off in stocks and a spike in crude.

Iran announced on Sunday a further rollback of its commitments to its nuclear accord, while Iraq's parliament demanded the departure of American troops from the country as fallout from the attack spread.

The crisis has jolted investors, who had been in an upbeat mood as China and the US prepare to...