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Oil near $105 as Trump reportedly weighs renewed Iran strikes - YAHOO FINANCE
Oil prices continued to climb on Thursday as Tehran-Washington tensions persisted following a report that the Trump administration may be considering renewed strikes on Iran.
Brent crude (BZ=F) rose to trade back near $105 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude (CL=F) was close to $92 a barrel.
The move followed reporting by The Atlantic that said President Trump may be considering striking Iran before the midterm elections. The outlet said the Pentagon is weighing options, though no final decision has been made.
The move comes amid recent increased incidents of vessel attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, a tropical storm is nearing the Gulf Coast, threatening to make landfall as a hurricane by Friday. Chevron said it is evacuating nonessential personnel from its offshore platforms in the region.
"These factors outweighed the news that the International Energy Agency was accelerating the release of stockpiles of oil and distillates," noted David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, on Thursday.
Higher energy costs are adding to expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain its tightening stance to curb inflation. The market fully priced in a 25 basis point Federal Reserve rate increase in December.
Bond yields have climbed higher worldwide, with the 10-year yield (^TNX) rising to 5.32%.
Volatile crude oil costs, along with maxed-out refining capacity, have caused refined fuel prices to surge.
Gasoline prices averaged $4.36 per gallon on Thursday, per AAA data. Diesel prices stood at $6.28 per gallon, down $0.02 from Wednesday.
The administration has been looking for ways to ease high energy costs ahead of November's midterm elections.
On Tuesday, President Trump, responding to a reporter, said he is considering suspending the federal gas tax.
Ines Ferre is a senior business reporter for Yahoo Finance.
