A pause in fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and President Donald Trump's statement that the US and Iran are "very close" to making a deal to end the weeks-old Middle East war has sent oil prices down on Friday.
Brent crude oil price decreased by more than 3 percent to $96.22 a barrel, while the US-traded WTI fell by more than 4 percent to $90.84.
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.