Even though crude oil from the US could cost slightly more than the price of Russian oil, Indian lenders have turned increasingly cautious as sanctions have targetted two major Russian energy firms.
Oil prices inched up on August 2 but benchmark Brent futures are on course to fall 1.7 percent and 1.1 percent for the week
Benchmark Brent opened higher at $90.57 per barrel on April 16, up 0.52 percent from previous day’s close. It had fallen to $88.93 a barrel on the previous day on anticipation of easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Benchmark Brent opened at $90.26 a barrel on April 15, lower than $90.45 a barrel at which prices settled on April 12—a day before Iran’s attack on Israel. Oil prices were already trading higher in the previous week on account of tensions building up between Iran and Israel.
According to a poll of 12 experts from brokerages and rating agencies, retail prices of petrol and diesel in India are expected to remain in the current range.
Brent and WTI settled on Friday at their highest levels since April, gaining for a fifth straight week, as tightening oil supplies globally and expectations of an end to U.S. interest rate hikes supported prices.