Oil Prices Drop Nearly 2% Amid Middle East Tensions
Oil prices fell nearly 2% on Monday after Israeli officials expressed a desire to avoid escalating tensions in the Middle East while responding to a deadly rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights over the weekend. Brent crude for September delivery closed the first trading day of the week at $79.78 a barrel, down $1.35, or 1.7%. Meanwhile, U.S. oil finished at $75.81 a barrel, falling $1.35, or 1.8%. Two Israeli officials informed Reuters on