The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that major North American stock indexes fell Tuesday along with bond prices and the price of gold as investors worried that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran may be growing into a drawn-out regional conflict with global economic implications. The Globe's Andrew Galbraith writes that while markets pared earlier losses after comments from President Donald Trump that the United States would insure oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz and escort them if necessary, analysts said that investors remained concerned about further escalation of the conflict. "The market is still nervous. Risk sentiment will remain very tempered until we get some more concrete signs of de-escalation or negotiation," RBC Capital Markets' George Davis said in a statement. Canada's broad TSX/SPX Composite Index fell more than 4 per cent before paring losses to end 2.2 per cent lower at 33,784.94. It was weighed down by materials companies, with a subindex tracking the sector slumping more than 7 per cent on the day. Investors worried about a worsening situation were considering where to take profits and reduce their overall risk. Gold slid more than 4.5 per cent to about $5,080 an ounce.