Oil prices rose on Friday as concerns that a Russian ban on fuel exports could tighten global oil supply outweighed fears that further possible U.S. interest rate hikes could dent fuel demand, but they were still headed for a weekly loss in four.
Brent futures for climbed 21 cents, or 0.2%, to $93.51 a barrel by 0103 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude, or WTI, futures gained 23 cents, or 0.3%, to $89.86.
The shortfall, which will force Russia's fuel buyers to shop elsewhere, caused heating oil futures to rise by nearly 5% on Thursday.
The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday maintained interest rates, but stiffened its hawkish stance, projecting a quarter-percentage-point increase to 5.50 to 5.75% by year-end.
The Bank of England mirrored the Fed and held interest rates on Thursday after a long run of hikes, but said it was not taking a recent fall in inflation for granted.
Persons:
Rishi Sunak, Brent, Toshitaka Tazawa
Organizations:
U.S, West Texas, of, Petroleum, Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England
Locations:
OPEC, United States, Europe, Russia