Brent crude trading at $78.22/bbl

Crude oil prices on Thursday increased Rs86 to Rs6,091 per barrel in futures trade as participants widened their positions following a firm spot demand. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for February delivery traded higher by Rs86, or 0.48 per cent, at Rs6,091 per barrel in 11,785 lots.

Analysts said raising bets by participants kept crude oil prices higher in futures trade. Globally, West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up by 0.65 per cent to $73.03 per barrel, and Brent crude traded 0.44 per cent higher at $78.22 per barrel in New York.