AP NewsWatch

I'm Ben Thomas with the NAP News Minute, markets took little encouragement from President

Trump's address last night that the war in the Middle East will be over any time soon.

Oil prices spiked, a barrel of U.S. crude rising more than 11 percent, settling above $111

per barrel.

Brent crude, the international standard which had been trading higher than West Texas

Intermediate in recent weeks, settled above $109.

Still stocks overcame early losses and closed with a weekly gain, the S&P finished the

day up about a tenth of a percent than ASDAQ 2-10s, but the Dow fell losing 61 points.

Jobless claims were down last week, while Alex Vega reports mortgage rates are up.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Maxx says the average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose this week

to 6.46 percent.

That's the highest level in nearly seven months.

Mortgage rates have now risen five weeks in a row.

While still down from a year ago, the recent rise in mortgage rates threatens to dampen

the spring home buying season.

I'm Alex Vega.

We're going to dampen Thomas.