Oil companies rise as crude gains after Israel attacks Hamas leaders in Qatar

S&P 500 Energy Index .SPNY climbs 1.6%, as oil extends gains after the Israeli military said it carried out an attack on Hamas leadership in Qatari capital Doha in an escalation of the conflict in the region

Brent crude LCOc1 climbs 1.4% to $66.93/bbl, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rises 1.5% to 463.17/bbl O/R

Oil majors Exxon XOM.N and Chevron CVX.N rise 1.9% and 1.3%, respectively

ConocoPhillips COP.N, Marathon Petroleum MPC.N, APA APA.O, Phillips 66 PSX.N and Valero Energy VLO.N among the top pct gainers on the energy index, up between 2% and 3%

Both crude contracts were already trading higher, supported by the latest oil output increase from OPEC+ being smaller than anticipated, expectations that China will continue stockpiling oil and concerns over potential new sanctions against Russia