Oil Prices Rise Amid Middle East Tensions and Positive Employment Data
Oil prices settled higher on Friday as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began a week-long sweep through the Middle East in an attempt to contain regional tensions stoked by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Brent crude futures settled up $1.17, or 1.51%, at $78.76 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished up $1.62,…