Brent crude trading at $78.97/bbl

Crude oil prices climbed Rs45 to Rs6,235 per barrel in futures trade as participants widened their positions following a firm spot demand. On MCX, crude oil for June delivery traded higher Rs45 or 1.11 per cent at Rs6,235 per barrel in 13,604 lots.

Analysts said raising of bets by participants kept crude oil prices higher in futures trade. Globally, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil was up 0.85 per cent to $74.70 per barrel, and Brent crude traded 0.71 per cent higher at $78.97 per barrel in New York.