HOUSTON: Oil prices gained more than 3 per cent and were heading for weekly gains on continued uncertainty over Middle East supplies, and as investors kept assessing how much diesel Russia could supply to the global markets.

Brent crude futures were up $3.41, or 3.2pc, at $109.34 at 12:41pm ET (1641 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $2.74, or 2.8pc, to $100.67, crossing $100 for the first time since Sept 21.

So far this week, Brent has risen 4.1pc and WTI 8.6pc.

“Conflict in the Middle East still keeps coming back and I think it’s questionable how much diesel fuel Russia can actually deliver to the markets. Those two factors are just continuing to have traders be buyers,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

Supply concerns also increased as attacks around the Strait of Hormuz surged over the past 10 days.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026