Crude oil prices continued to inch higher for the fourth day straight, staying beyond the $85 per barrel mark, on Thursday. The hike comes as investors react to a fresh escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran, with concerns mounting over the security of major global energy shipping routes.

Crude oil prices soared nearly 5% on July 13, with Brent nearing $80 per barrel, as escalating US-Iran strikes fueled market volatility and supply concerns.

Brent crude futures gained $1.68, or 2%, to $84.98 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.65, or 2.1%, to $79.79 a barrel. On Monday, Brent had surged…