LONDON: Oil prices gained over two per cent on Thursday on concerns of a broadening conflict in the Middle East after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas.

Brent futures rose $2.13, or 2.7pc, to $81.34 a barrel at 12:19pm (1719 GMT). US West Texas Int-ermediate crude gained $2.00, or 2.7pc, to $75.86.

The Brent benchmark breached $80 a barrel for the first time since Feb 1 as it extended into a fourth straight session of gains.

Israeli forces bombed the southern border city of Rafah on Thursday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposal to end the war in the Palestinian enclave.

“The market is holding its breath on what the next potential fallout could be,” said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC. Attacks on shipping by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continued to disrupt global oil trading, he added.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Thursday for ceasefire talks with mediators Egypt and Qatar.

In the US, a stronger than expected drawdown in gasoline and middle-distillate stocks also buoyed the oil market.

The draw in fuel stocks, combined with a rise in crude stocks, was a sign of US refinery maintenance, Varga said.

“Ongoing US refinery maintenance, together with Europe being short on diesel, can help maintain the positive sentiment for now,” he added.

Elsewhere, Norway’s Johan Sverdrup oilfield will maintain production at a higher rate of 755,000 bpd for the rest of year, Aker BP said.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2024