European oil, gas companies rise as attacks on Middle East facilities drive crude higher

Shares in European oil and gas firms extend morning gains as crude prices surge further and supply risks intensify on key energy facilities across the Middle East

*Benchmark Brent jumps above $119 a barrel from around $115 earlier, after fresh Iranian missile attacks on energy facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

Shell's SHEL.L 140,000 barrel-per-day Pearl gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar halted production after being hit, tightening expectations for refined fuel supply including diesel and jet fuel

European gas prices soar to their highest in more than three years, adding further support to energy stocks

Norwegian companies, which have little or no exposure to the Middle East, lead the gains on STOXX oil and gas subindex .SXEP, which is up around 0.8%

Equinor EQNR.OL and Var Energi VAR.OL rise around 11%, while Aker BP AKRBP.OL gains more than 6%, all extending winning streaks to a seventh consecutive session

Equinor hits highest in almost 4 years

Peers Galp GALP.LS, Maurel & Prom MAUP.PA, Eni ENI.MI, Total Energies TTEF.PA and BP BP.L rise around 3-4%