Brent crude topped $100 a barrel Wednesday morning as fighting in the Middle East escalated. The US Centcom said Tuesday that it sank five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported Wednesday that "several" merchant vessels in the Northern Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman were attacked as part of military activity in the region. UKMTO was unable to confirm if any casualties or environmental impact has occurred, it added.
West Texas Intermediate October crude oil futures, the US benchmark, jumped 3.1% to $95.90 per barrel. November Brent oil futures, the international benchmark, also advanced 3% to $100.79 a barrel.
Comex gold December futures advanced 0.88% to $4,474.40 per ounce.
In agricultural commodities, December wheat futures edged down 0.8% to $7.40 per bushel, while canola futures for November fell 0.3% to CA$836.80 per tonne.