Brent crude price reaches $100 due to Mideast tensions

NEW YORK -- International benchmark Brent crude rose to the highest level in two months, reaching 100 U.S. dollars per barrel on Thursday morning after two Saudi oil tankers were hit in the Red Sea.

Brent crude for September delivery climbed to 100.28 dollars per barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange, up 6.21 dollars, or 6.6 percent, from the previous settlement.

Meanwhile, the West Texas Intermediate for September delivery reached 91.61 dollars per barrel at one point, up 4.78 dollars, or 5.5 percent on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday that it had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, claiming the vessels had violated the group's recently announced maritime restrictions.