Oil edges up on upbeat data, Middle East unrest - Reuters

Oil edges up on upbeat data, Middle East unrest - Reuters:

Oil prices held on to three-month highs on Monday, underpinned by optimism over an expected China-U.S. trade deal and upbeat industrial data, while traders kept a close watch on the Middle East following a U.S. air strike.

Investors remained cautious despite news of the U.S. strikes in Iraq and Syria against an Iran-backed militia group, even as U.S. officials warned “additional actions” may be taken.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 rose 4 cents to $61.76 a barrel by 0800 GMT. The U.S. benchmark is up about 36% so far this year.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $68.33 a barrel, up 17 cents, or 0.3%. The international benchmark has risen around 27% in 2019.