Oil prices steadied in early trade on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the U.S.-Iran war and the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Mario Tama | Getty Images<\/p>\n
Oil\u00a0prices steadied in early trade on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the U.S.-Iran war and the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Brent crude futures<\/a> for October delivery\u00a0rose 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.87 a barrel by 0037 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures<\/a> for September\u00a0slipped 2 cents to $85.81 a barrel. The more active October WTI contract<\/a>\u00a0gained 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $84.53.<\/p>\n Both Brent and WTI benchmarks gained for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, settling at their highest since July 24. The September WTI contract expires later on Thursday.<\/p>\n “Oil\u00a0prices remained elevated as the market is supported by sporadic attacks in the Middle East but lacks fresh momentum without a major escalation,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities.<\/p>\n “The market is likely to maintain a gradual upward trend given uncertainty over peace talks and tensions involving the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iran,” he added.<\/p>\n The UAE’s decision to\u00a0suspend\u00a0all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice has refocused the spotlight on fraught ties between the major Gulf Arab\u00a0oil\u00a0producer and Iran.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said\u00a0no talks\u00a0were taking place with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open. Iran, however, said the waterway remained shut.<\/p>\n Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz\u00a0slowed, data showed on Wednesday, as most shipowners avoided the key waterway because of a lack of clear signalling on its reopening from a blockade put in place during the Iran war.<\/p>\n In the U.S., crude and gasoline inventories\u00a0rose\u00a0and distillate stockpiles fell last week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Crude inventories rose by 4.4 million barrels in the week ended on August 14, compared with estimates for a 600,000-barrel\u00a0draw.<\/p>\n