Oil prices spiked Thursday morning amid reports of explosions on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman close to the Iranian coastline, according to CNBC.
Prices spiked as much as 4 percent in response to the incident, according to the network, with Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, up $2.02, or 3.4 percent, to $61.99 a barrel, around 9 a.m. EST.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude, meanwhile, increased $1.66, or 3.3 percent, to $52.80, according to CNBC.
The tankers, the Kokuka Courageous and the Front Altair, reportedly went up in flames just before 6 a.m. local time.
The Washington Post reported that both ships’ crews were evacuated successfully from their vessels.
An attack on the tankers had not been confirmed, but a representative for BSM Ship Management, the Kokuka’s manager, said in a statement that 21 crew members had abandoned ship and been rescued from a lifeboat after the fire.
………
- Discussion
-
JUST IN: Gulf tanker attack leads to spike in oil prices https://t.co/WOpJX9HxTC pic.twitter.com/W84r09lNUK
— The Hill (@thehill) June 13, 2019
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.