Oil up after Saudi air strikes in Yemen; dollar limits gains

Oil prices rallied for a second straight day on Thursday after Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies began air strikes in Yemen, sparking fears of a bigger Middle East battle that could disrupt world crude supplies.
The military operation against Houthi rebels, who have driven the president from Yemen's capital Sanaa, has not affected oil facilities of major Gulf producers.
But fears the conflict could spread has stoked concerns about Middle East oil shipments.Saudi rival Iran, which backs the Houthi rebels, denounced the air strikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, called for an "immediate ceasefire." Pakistan, a Riyadh ally far away from the conflict, promised a "strong response" to any threat to Saudi integrity. (more)

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