SINGAPORE Reuters - Oil prices rose by more than $1 a barrel on Monday after top exporter Saudi Arabia raised prices for its crude sold to Asia and the United States, and as indirect U.S.-Iran talks on reviving a nuclear deal appeared to hit an impasse.
Brent crude futures for February increased by $1.69, or 2.4%, to $71.57 a barrel by 0033 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for January was at $67.92 a barrel, up $1.66, or 2.5%.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia raised the January official selling prices for all crude grades sold to Asia and the United States by up to 80 cents from the previous month.
The price hikes were implemented despite the decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC to increase supplies by 400,000 barrels per day in January.
After indirect U.S.-sponsored talks on saving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, prices were buoyed by the lack of a rise in Iranian oil exports. European officials expressed dismay over the demands of Iran's new, hardline government on Friday. The talks are scheduled to resume in the middle of the week.
Both benchmarks rebounded last week after falling for the sixth week in a row for the first time since November 2018 due to concerns that the new coronavirus variant Omicron could affect global economic growth and fuel demand.
In another sign of the turmoil unleashed by the pandemic, the head of International Monetary Fund said the global lender is likely to lower its global economic growth estimates because of the new variant.
Omicron has been found in about one-third of the U.S. states as of Sunday.