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by Stockwatch Business Reporter

West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery added 41 cents to $83.14 on the New York Merc, while Brent for June added 18 cents to $87.29 (all figures in this para U.S.). Western Canadian Select traded at a discount of $14.20 to WTI, down from a discount of $13.80. Natural gas for May lost one cent to $1.75. The TSX energy index lost a fraction of a point to close at 294.94.

Oil prices had a rocky day as traders continued to weigh the risks of escalating hostilities in the Middle East. Early in the session, prices shot up by more than $3 (U.S.) in the wake of media reports of an apparent Israeli airstrike in Iran. After both Israel and Iran downplayed the attack, prices retreated and ultimately notched a weekly loss.

Here in North America, the Alberta- and Texas-focused Baytex Energy Corp. (BTE) edged up two cents to $5.00 on 9.5 million shares. It spent the week squiring cheerleaders -- also known as analysts -- around its Texas Eagle Ford operations, particularly the ones it acquired last year through its $2.9-billion takeover of Ranger Oil. Now the pom-poms are waggling in response. "Flocking to the ROCC," chortled TD analyst Menno Hulshof in a new research note (ROCC being Ranger's old ticker). Other analysts talking up the "highlights" of the tour included BMO's Jeremy McCrea and National Bank's Dan Payne.

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