A relatively weak storm hundreds of miles south of Puerto Rico captured the attention of energy traders Friday, sending oil and natural-gas prices higher on fears that it could strengthen and threaten Gulf of Mexico production by next week. Large oil producers operating in the Gulf of Mexico said they were prepared to evacuate nonessential personnel should that become necessary. World energy markets also remained focused on Iran’s stand-off with the West over its nuclear program.
Light sweet crude for October delivery rose 54 cents to $72.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, where natural gas futures climbed 24 cents to $7.32 per 1,000 cubic feet and gasoline futures rose more than 2 cents to $1.88 a gallon. On London’s ICE Futures exchange, October Brent crude rose 91 cents to $73.61 a barrel.
