Oil Up on Escalating Tensions

Oil prices rose on Tuesday on escalating US-Iran tensions and amid expectations that producer club OPEC will continue to withhold supply this year.
But gains were checked by concerns that a prolonged trade war between Washington and Beijing could lead to a global economic slowdown, CNBC reported.
Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $72.18 per barrel, up 21 cents, or 0.3%, from their last close. 
WTI crude futures were up 31 cents, or 0.5%, at $63.41 per barrel. 
“Escalating tensions between the US and Iran, in addition to signs that OPEC will continue its production cut, drove oil higher,” said Jasper Lawler, head of research at futures brokerage London Capital Group. 
US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Iran with “great force” if it attacked US interests in the Middle East. Iran said on Tuesday that it would resist US pressure, declining further talks under current circumstances. 
The tension comes amid an already tight market as OPEC, Russia and other producers have been withholding supply since the start of the year to prop up prices. 
A meeting has been scheduled for June 25-26 to discuss the policy, but the group is now considering moving the event to July 3-4, according to OPEC sources on Monday, with its de-facto leader Saudi Arabia signaling a willingness to continue withholding output. 
Price gains were constrained by pressure on financial markets, which have this week been weighed down by worries that the US and China are digging in for a long, costly trade war that could result in a broad global slowdown.