Oil prices and safe-haven assets jump following US missile strike on Syria

Brent crude climbed above $56 a barrel

Tom Eckett
clock • 2 min read

Oil prices climbed to one-month highs on Friday while investors flocked to safe-haven assets, after the US launched a missile strike on an airbase in Syria in response to recent chemical weapon attacks.

According to Reuters, US President Donald Trump said the strike  was in the US's "national security interest". On the news, the price of Brent Crude spiked above $56 a barrel but has now fallen back, rising 1.42% to $55.67, while West Texan Intermediate climbed 1.61% to $52.53, both one-month highs. While Syria's oil production remains limited, its location and alliances with big oil producers have raised concerns about an escalation of the conflict disrupting crude shipments. Hedge funds unwind long oil positions at record pace Officials said the US did inform Russia about the ...

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