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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iran attack: Crude oil prices jump after Iraq missile attacks | Iran attack: Crude oil prices jump after Iraq missile attacks |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Oil prices have jumped after at least two airbases hosting US troops in Iraq were attacked. | Oil prices have jumped after at least two airbases hosting US troops in Iraq were attacked. |
| Crude oil jumped by as much as 4.5% to $65.65 per barrel in Asian trade on concerns that this could disrupt oil supplies from the Middle East. | Crude oil jumped by as much as 4.5% to $65.65 per barrel in Asian trade on concerns that this could disrupt oil supplies from the Middle East. |
| So-called safe haven assets, like gold and the Japanese yen, also rose sharply on the news. | So-called safe haven assets, like gold and the Japanese yen, also rose sharply on the news. |
| At the same time global stock prices were sent lower on concerns over the growing conflict in the Middle East. | At the same time global stock prices were sent lower on concerns over the growing conflict in the Middle East. |
| Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index fell by more than 2%, and Hang Seng in Hong Kong was down 1.26% in early trade. | |
| Iranian state television said the attack was a retaliation for the killing of the country's top commander Qasem Soleimani. | Iranian state television said the attack was a retaliation for the killing of the country's top commander Qasem Soleimani. |
| The attack happened just hours after the funeral service for Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike on Friday. | |
| His death had raised concerns that the conflict between the US and Iran could escalate further. | His death had raised concerns that the conflict between the US and Iran could escalate further. |
| That could disrupt shipping in the world's busiest sea route for oil, the Strait of Hormuz. Around a fifth of global oil supply passes through the strait which connects the Gulf with the Arabian Sea. | |
| The Strait of Hormuz is vital for the main oil exporters in the Gulf region - Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, and Kuwait - whose economies are built around oil and gas production. Iran also relies heavily on this route for its oil exports. | |
| Qatar, the world's biggest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), exports nearly all its gas through the strait. |