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Oil edges up on Middle East dispute but supply outlook restricts gains

Oil prices inched up in early Asian trading hours on Friday, holding on to their strong weekly gains, as financiers weighed the Middle East dispute and the potential interruption in crude flows against an amplysupplied worldwide market.

Brent crude futures were up 9 cents, or 0.12%, to $ 77.71 a barrel as of 0010 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 8 cents, or 0.11%, to $73.79 a. barrel.

Both standards were on track for weekly gains of about 8%.

President Joe Biden stated on Thursday the U.S. was discussing. strikes on Iran's oil facilities as retaliation for Tehran's. missile attack on Israel. The remarks contributed to a 5% rally. in oil costs.

The market has actually started to rate in the possibility of supply. interruptions in the Middle East, which accounts for about a third. of worldwide supply, ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes said.

The move has actually been worsened by bearish investors. unwinding their bets on lower rates. The relocation might be extended. if investors start developing bullish positions in oil, Hynes. said.

Nevertheless, the supply worries have been tempered by OPEC's extra. production capacity and the truth that worldwide crude supplies have. yet to be interfered with by the Middle East unrest.

Libya's eastern-based federal government and Tripoli-based National. Oil Corp revealed on Thursday the resuming of all oilfields. and export terminals after a dispute over leadership of the. central bank was dealt with, ending a crisis that had greatly. minimized oil production.

Iran and Libya are both members of OPEC. Iran, which is. operating under U.S. sanctions, produced about 4.0 million. barrels daily of fuel in 2023, while Libya produced about 1.3. million bpd in 2015, according to information from the U.S. Energy. Details Administration.

(source: Reuters)