Oil Up, Concerns About Omicron Impact Continue to Fall

Investing.com – Oil was up Monday morning in Asia, extending recent gains as fears over the omicron COVID-19 variant’s impact on the economic recovery and fuel demand continue to ease. Brent oil futures rose 1.52% to $76.29 by 10:26 PM ET (3:26 AM GMT) and WTI futures jumped 1.59% to $72.81. Both Brent and WTI futures gained around 8% last week, the first weekly gain in seven. "Market sentiment has improved as the threat of the omicron variant has receded. WTI futures will probably test its recent high of $73.34 and then try to rise towards $78, the level before the Omicron fears led to a sharp sell-off in late November," Fujitomi Securities Co Ltd. analyst Toshitaka Tazawa told Reuters.