COMMODITIES REVIEW | Oil Falls as Middle East Supply Fears Ease, Copper Rises, Gold Tracks Treasuries

Oil prices fell on Thursday as traders bet that disruptions to Middle East supply would ease and the spot market cooled. According to Sina Finance, Brent crude fell 1% to below $105 a barrel, while WTI crude dropped 0.5% to around $102 a barrel. Copper rose as traders brushed off the Federal Reserve chair's hawkish signal and signs of increased buying activity lifted sentiment. According to Sina Finance, London copper gained 1.8% to settle at $14,491.50 a ton. Gold rose with U.S. Treasuries as lower oil prices helped ease inflation concerns. According to Sina Finance, spot gold at one point climbed 2.8% to above $4,380 an ounce, and later rose 1.8% to $4,341.29 an ounce at 4:35 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.