LONDON, Jan 21: The price of oil held steady here on Monday in quiet trading, with the US market shut for the Martin Luther King holiday.

Reference Brent North Sea crude for March delivery was quoted at $18.64 a barrel from 18.45 on Friday evening.

In New York, February-dated light sweet crude futures closed Friday at $18 a barrel, up three cents on the day.

The basket price of the Opec stood at $17.21 on Friday against $17.47 on Thursday, the OPECNA agency reported.—AFP