Oil holds gains as US weighs Middle East deployments and China halts fuel exports

Crude oil prices held firm on Friday, with Brent hovering near $102.55 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate around $92.92 per barrel after earlier trading at $102.60 and $93.14, respectively. Prices follow a sharp Thursday rally where Brent surged over $4 and WTI gained more than $2. Markets are reacting to reports that the U.S. is considering deploying an additional aircraft carrier and up to 10,000 troops to the Middle East as President Donald Trump evaluates strikes on Iran. Tightness was further stoked by Chinese refiners halting fuel exports for October.