Oil Jumps Over $2 on Fears of Escalating Middle East Conflict

Oil Jumps Over $2 on Fears of Escalating Middle East Conflict
An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China, on Jan. 4, 2023. China Daily via Reuters
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LONDON—Oil prices rose by more than $2 a barrel on Friday as investors priced in fears of an escalation of conflict in the Middle East which could disrupt oil supplies, after reports that the U.S military had struck Iranian targets in Syria.

Brent crude futures for December rose $2.03, or 2.3 percent, to $89.96 a barrel by 1011 GMT. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate contract for December climbed $1.89, or 2.3 percent, to $85.1 a barrel.