"Progress in Gaza Hostage Talks Sparks Hope for New Deal"
Crude oil futures dipped slightly as a senior Israeli official expressed optimism about progress on a deal to release hostages in Gaza, while the market awaited U.S. inventory data. The West Texas Intermediate contract fell to $77.44 a barrel, and the Brent contract for April dropped to $82.50 a barrel. Efforts to secure the release of hostages could potentially reduce the risk of conflict in the Middle East and disrupt crude supplies.