US, Brent Crude Futures Extend Gains after US Job Data

U.S. and Brent crude futures extended gains on Tuesday, erasing earlier losses on lift from a Labor Department report showing U.S. job openings rose sharply in February.

 

Also supportive were remarks from a U.S. Federal Reserve official arguing that it may be too early to talk about reducing monetary accommodation and a partial closure of the Mississippi River after an oil leak.

 

U.S. May crude was up 94 cents at $53.08 a barrel at 11:05 a.m. EDT (1505 GMT), having reached $53.46. Brent May crude was up 61 cents at $58.73, having reached $59.09.