Brent crude trading at $81.60/bbl

Crude oil prices climbed Rs13 to Rs6,499 per barrel in futures trade as participants widened their positions following a firm spot demand. On MCX, crude oil for June delivery traded higher Rs13 or 0.2 per cent at Rs6,499 per barrel in 6,892 lots.

Analysts said raising of bets by participants kept crude oil prices higher in futures trade. Globally, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil was almost flat at $77.73 per barrel, and Brent crude traded 0.05 per cent lower at $81.60 per barrel in New York.