Crude Oil eases back after rise on geopolitical concerns, WTI falls back into $72.50

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Crude Oil rose to a new 2024 high of $75.27 on Friday, with energy markets growing increasingly nervous about spill-over from ongoing geopolitical tensions after naval forces from the US and UK launched attacks on Houthi rebel forces that have been targeting civilian cargo and tanker ships off the coast of Yemen.