Oil Prices Jump After U.S. Strikes Iran Over Downed Apache

Oil prices jumped in early Asian trading on Wednesday after the United States launched what it described as self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz.  At the time of writing, Brent crude was up 1.03% at $92.39 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate had gained 0.91% to trade at $89.00 per barrel. U.S. Central Command said the strikes were in response to Iran's downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter in the region. U.S. forces then "struck Iranian air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance…