Oil prices fall as Saudi supply hopes outweigh fresh Houthi strikes

Oil prices fell on Friday as investors weighed fresh strikes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis against signs that additional Saudi crude could reach global markets and help ease supply concerns. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, were down 0.94% to $103.83 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were down 0.88% to $101.01 per barrel. Saudi Arabia and the Houthis exchanged fresh attacks across their border on Thursday , raising concerns that the widening Middle East conflict could further disrupt energy supplies already strained since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February.