* The Institute for Supply Management's US manufacturing index dropped to 52.4 in February from 52.6 in January, versus expectations for 51.5 according to a Bloomberg-compiled survey.

* The S&P Global US manufacturing index for February was revised up slightly to 51.6 from the flash reading of 51.2, compared with expectations for a smaller upward revision to 51.4 as per a Bloomberg survey.

* April West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $5.28 to settle at $72.28 per barrel, while April Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $6.36 at $79.23.

* Shares of major oil companies were up as crude prices rose amid escalating tension in the Middle East. Marathon Petroleum (MPC) shares were up about 6%, Chevron (CVX) stock was up 1.5%, while Valero Energy (VLO) advanced by nearly 5%.

* BlackRock's (BLK) Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT Infrastructure VI fund are leading a consortium that has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AES (AES) for $15 per share in cash, or an equity value of $10.7 billion and an enterprise value of about $33.4 billion, including the assumption of existing debt, the companies said Monday. AES shares were up roughly 17%.

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