Brent Oil Price Tops US$113 Per Barrel For 1st Time Since March 9

MOSCOW, March 19 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Global oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday morning, with Brent breaking above US$113 per barrel, according to trading data.

At 05.49 GMT, May Brent crude futures were up 4.62 per cent from the prior close at US$112.34 per barrel. Minutes before that, the international benchmark had topped US$113 for the first time since March 9, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for May delivery gained 1.11 per cent to rise to US$96.52 per barrel.

-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI