Shares wilt as Middle East tension heats up crude oil

LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) – Global shares retreated on Friday as geopolitical tension kept crude oil above $90 a barrel ahead of U.S. payroll numbers, and hawkish central bankers raised doubts about the pace and timing of interest rate cuts. The threat of supply disruptions from prolonged conflict in the Middle East kept Brent oil futures above $90 a barrel, a level not seen since last October, with prices heading for their second weekly gain. The dollar firmed against peer currencies after rebounding from a two-week low, while gold’s rally to record highs on Thursday came to a halt ahead of the U.S. payroll numbers. The MSCI All Country stock index was down 0.3% at 770.7 points as it continues…