Oil prices surge after suspected attacks on tankers

World oil prices have risen following suspected attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, worsening frayed tensions in the crude-rich Middle East region.

The rise in oil prices - jumping as much as 4.5 per cent before pulling back somewhat - boosted share prices of energy companies, while global stock markets also won some support from the prospect of US interest rate cuts this year.

The Gulf of Oman lies at the other end of the strategic Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf, part of a vital shipping lane through which at least 15 million barrels of crude oil and hundreds of millions of dollars of non-oil imports pass each day.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of responsibility for the incidents and said the United States would raise the attacks at a UN Security Council meeting scheduled for later Thursday. Iran labelled the attacks "suspicious."