BANGKOK – Oil prices pressed higher Monday after strikes on major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, shook energy markets already rattled by a decision by oil producers last week to not lift output.
Brent crude, the international standard, surpassed $70 per barrel for the first time in over a year, gaining $1.14 to $70.47 a barrel.
It surged $2.62 on Friday. Benchmark U.S. crude oil added $1.10 to $67.19 per barrel, up 1.7%, falling back from bigger gains earlier in the day.
It jumped $2.26 to $66.09 per barrel on Friday. Prices have been recovering in the past few months after plunging last year with the onset of the pandemic.