The energy sector is trading sharply higher in the pre-market session, driven by a significant surge in crude oil prices. Brent crude surpassed $104 a barrel amid reports of increased attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East. Geopolitical anxieties have been further stoked by reports that the White House has requested military options for potential strikes against Iran, fueling fears of a wider conflict that could disrupt global oil supplies and leading to a reversal of recent price slides.