World shares have fallen and oil prices slipped as investors braced for an expected invasion of Gaza by Israel. Tokyo's benchmark sank 2%. U.S. futures edged higher. On Friday, U.S. stocks mostly fell as they were buffeted by competing waves of optimism and fear. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite fell 1.2%, while the Dow industrials edged up 0.1%. A survey showed U.S. consumer sentiment souring on fears about inflation. But several of the biggest U.S. banks said their profits were better during the summer than feared. That offered hope for the reporting season that just got underway.
