U.S. Diesel Tops $6

U.S. diesel prices topped $6 a gallon for the first time, reaching a national average of $6.06 Friday, up from $5.98 Thursday and $5.85 a week earlier. Oil retreated but posted sharp weekly gains: Brent settled at $104.61 and WTI at $100.05 after Brent briefly topped $108 Thursday. The gains followed disrupted crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz and reports of Iran-backed Houthi advances along Red Sea routes. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% Thursday, its fourth straight loss, as higher energy costs raised inflation concerns.