Oil prices settle up nearly 2% on new Iran sanctions, equities rally
Oil prices settled more than $1 per barrel higher on Tuesday as new U.S. sanctions against Iran and rising equity markets helped spark a recovery rally from the prior session's steep selloff.
Brent crude futures rose $1.18, or 1.8%, to settle at $67.44 per barrel. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude contract for May, which expired on Tuesday's settlement, gained $1.23, or 2%, to close at $64.32.
The more actively traded WTI June contract also gained 2% to settle at $63.47.
The U.S. on Tuesday issued fresh sanctions targeting an Iranian liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil shipping magnate and his corporate network.
Although talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program made progress over the weekend, failure to reach a deal could weigh heavily on Iran's oil exports amid tightening U.S. sanctions, said John Kilduff, partner at New York-based Again Capital.
Source: Reuters
