Oil Prices Firm as Middle East Tensions Heat Up

Oil Prices Firm as Middle East Tensions Heat Up
Army soldier miniatures and stock graph are seen in this illustration taken on Oct. 9, 2023. Dado Ruvic/Reuters
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LONDON—Oil prices rose on Thursday after an oil tanker was boarded by an armed group in Oman, raising the prospect of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Brent crude futures gained $1.03, or 1.3 percent, to $77.83 a barrel by 0916 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 98 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $72.35, though gains were capped by a surprise build in U.S. crude stockpiles.