Saudi central bank follows the US Fed’s move and raises interest rates

RIYADH: Oil prices climbed on Thursday after the International Energy Agency, or IEA, said markets could lose three million barrels per day of Russian crude and refined products from April.

The supply loss would be far greater than an expected one million bpd per day drop in demand triggered by higher fuel prices, the IEA said in a report on Wednesday.

Benchmark Brent crude futures gained $1.8, or 1.9 percent, to $99.86 a barrel by 0408 GMT, after falling for three consecutive trading sessions.

US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.6, or 1.7 percent, to $96.67 a barrel.

Both contracts settled lower the previous day, following an unexpected jump in US crude stockpiles and signs of progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

India to import 15 million barrels of cheap Russian oil

Meanwhile, a Business Standard report suggests that India is all set to import 15 million barrels of Russian oil.

Earlier, it has been reported that the Indian Oil Corporation had bought 3 million barrels of Russian Urals from trader Vitol for May delivery.

Ukraine-Russia peace talks; Wheat falls, corn, soybean rise

US wheat futures extended losses in early trade on Thursday, hit by hopes of a resumption in supplies from the Black Sea region as talks between Ukraine and Russia progressed, while corn and soybean rose on strong demand in the physical market.

The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade was down 1.15 percent at $10.57 a bushel, as of 0232 GMT, after falling by the daily limit of 85 cents in the previous session.

Corn rose 0.75 percent to $7.35-1/2 a bushel, while soybeans rose 0.47 percent to $16.57 a bushel.

Gold gains as Fed hikes rates as expected

Gold prices gained on Thursday as the US Federal Reserve raised interest rate as expected, with investors focusing on the Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

Spot gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,935.89 per ounce by 0436 GMT after touching its lowest since Feb. 28 at $1,894.70 on Wednesday. US gold futures also rose 1.5 percent to $1,937.40.

(With inputs from Reuters)