Energy shares gain as crude climbs on escalating Mideast tensions
BUZZ-Energy shares gain as crude climbs on escalating Mideast tensions ** Shares of U.S. energy companies gain premarket, tracking higher crude prices O/R
** Brent crude futures LCOc1 rise 3.3% to $86.86/barrel; U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 also up 3.3% at $81.85/barrel
** Prices rise after U.S. and Saudi strikes in Iraq, Iran missile interceptions, and a drop in U.S. crude inventories
** Energy majors: Exxon Mobil XOM.N and Chevron CVX.N up 1.5% and 1.1%, respectively
** Oil producers: Occidental Petroleum OXY.N, Devon Energy DVN.N, APA Corp APA.O, Diamondback Energy FANG.O gain between 1.4% and 1.9%
** Refiners: Marathon Petroleum MPC.N up 1.8% and Valero Energy VLO.N gain 1.6%
(Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru)