The main international oil contract Brent North Sea fell back under $100 Friday after surging past the key milestone the previous day on escalating Middle East strikes, helping US and European stock markets stabilize. Brent dropped about four percent to under $97 a barrel, having soared seven percent Thursday. The key US contract, West Texas Intermediate, declined more than three percent after having gained more than six percent on Thursday.

World oil prices soared Wednesday, with the benchmark international contract Brent North Sea crude surpassing $95 for the first time in nearly six weeks as the United States and…

Brent crude rose above US$95 a barrel for the first time in nearly six weeks amid fears of supply disruptions from escalating US-Iran tensions.