Oil prices rose more than two percent in early trading in 2024 on the back of a potential supply disruption from the Middle East following the latest attack on a container ship in the Red Sea.
A barrel of “Brent” oil rose by 2.2 percent and now costs $78.76. A barrel of crude oil in the US is selling for $73.22 after rising by 2.2 percent.
Economists and analysts expect Brent crude to average $82.56 a barrel this year, slightly higher than the 2023 average.