Brent tops $100 as Middle East conflict tightens oil supply
Brent crude futures rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July as escalating Middle East hostilities raised expectations of disrupted crude flows from the region. Front-month Brent traded around $100.66/bl (up about 2.8%), with WTI near $95.77/bl, as attacks on oil facilities and shipping routes heighten supply concerns and refine margins remain tight. Analysts say a prolonged crisis could keep prices elevated by threatening routes like the Hormuz Strait and the Red Sea, sustaining volatility in global energy markets.