Brent crude gains as US oil release meets resistance

A trader watches computer screens at NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Oct. 10, 2008. European stock markets slumped further on Friday following massive losses on Wall Street and Asia on mounting fears that this week's efforts by central banks and governments to break the logjam in credit markets have failed to ease lending rates between banks. At midday London time, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 328.03, or 7.6 percent, at 3,985.77, below the 4,000 mark earlier for the first time in five years. Germany's DAX was 399.92, or 8.2 percent, at 4,487.08, and France's CAC-40 was 254.03, or 7.4 percent lower at 3,188.67. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Oil price: Brent crude futures gained as the US oil release plan met opposition

Brent crude futures inched up in early Asian trade on Monday after a plan by the US to release its strategic petroleum reserves met opposition, while expectations of a revival in North Sea crude output also limited gains.

Oil prices slipped last week after a source said the White House was "dusting off" plans for potentially tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as high energy costs from undermining the success of Iran sanctions.

Along with Japan and South Korea, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy watchdog of the West, said on Friday there was no reason to release US reserves to arrest the rise in gasoline prices.

Brent crude for October rose 54 cents to $114.25 a barrel by Monday morning. US oil added 34 cents to $96.35.

Brent…

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