Brent crude trading at $82.34/bbl

Crude oil prices on Wednesday climbed Rs31 to Rs6,512 per barrel in futures trade as participants widened their positions following a firm spot demand. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for March delivery traded higher Rs31 or 0.48 per cent at Rs6,512 per barrel in 4,532 lots.

Analysts said raising of bets by participants kept crude oil prices higher in futures trade. Globally, West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.51 per cent to $78.55 per barrel, and Brent crude traded 0.37 per cent higher at $82.34 per barrel in New York.