Oil prices extended gains on Friday and were on track to rise for a second week on heightened fears that the Israel-Gaza crisis may spread in the Middle East and disrupt supply from one of the world’s top-producing regions.
Brent crude futures was up 87 cents to $93.25 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.18 a barrel, up 81 cents. The front-month November contract expires on Friday.
“The escalation of tension that we’re likely to see with regard to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) entering Gaza this weekend means the risk to crude oil are towards higher prices,” IG analyst Tony Sycamore said.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at the Gaza border on Thursday that they would soon see the Palestinian enclave “from inside”, suggesting an expected ground invasion could be nearing.
Adding to the anxiety about the broadening of the conflict, the Pentagon said the U.S. had intercepted missiles fired from Yemen toward Israel.
Oil price are also supported by forecasts of a widening deficit in the fourth quarter after top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia extended supply cuts to the end of the year and amid low inventories especially in the United States.
Separately, a temporary lifting of U.S. oil sanctions on OPEC member Venezuela is unlikely to require any policy changes by the OPEC+ producer group for the time being as a recovery in production is likely to be gradual, OPEC+ sources told Reuters.
“Venezuelan oil production will not be a significant factor in shaping the global oil balance in the foreseeable future,” said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM in a note on Friday.
