New York: Global energy prices spiked by 15 per cent after a weekend attack on key oil facilities in Saudi Arabia caused the worst disruption to world supplies on record.
It was an increase on par with the 1991 Gulf War and analysts said heightened tensions in the Middle East could keep prices elevated for the foreseeable future.
The wider economic fallout will depend on just how long the Saudi supply disruption lasts. Crude was up more than $8 per barrel by midday trading, to about $63, and Brent picked up more than $9 per barrel, to $69.