Oil lifted to $73 by real and threatened supply cuts

Oil edged higher to $73 a barrel on Friday, supported by a host of supply cuts and concern of further disruption to Middle East shipments as tensions rise, and was heading for a weekly gain.

Brent crude was up 43 cents to $73.05 a barrel. The global benchmark is up about 3 percent this week, having ended last week steady and fallen the week before. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude added 60 cents to $63.47.