Oil: Brent close to $ 100 a barrel – Gas closed at + 51%

International oil prices rose on Thursday, exceeding $ 100 a barrel in 2014 – but not in closing – for the first time since 2014, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of the morning. Natural gas in Europe also recorded an explosive rise, with its price skyrocketing by more than 50%.

The global benchmark, Brent oil, delivered in Aprilclosed with an increase of 2.24 dollars or 2.3%, to 99.08 dollars per barrel, having reached earlier up to 105.79 dollars.

The American WTI crude, April deliverygained 71 cents or 0.8%, closing at $ 92.81 a barrel, having reached $ 100.54 intra-conference.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is considered to be the largest military operation in Europe since the wars in the Balkans in the 1990s or even since World War II.

It thus raises strong concerns about supply disruptions, especially at a time of uncertainty for the global economy, which has been plagued by pandemics and consequent supply chain disruptions.

Disruptions especially in Russian oil and gas supplies and sanctions are estimated to lead to higher energy prices, which will prolong intensifying inflationary pressures.

Russia’s “expulsion” from the international payment system SWIFT is not yet included in the sanctions announced by the US, EU and Britain against Russia, but US President Joe Biden stressed that “it remains on the table”.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced later in the day that U.S. crude stockpiles rose 4.5 million barrels in the week ended Feb. 18.

Analysts expected a drop of 300,000 barrels, according to a survey by S&P Global Platts.

The Dutch gas contract, a benchmark in Europe, closed with a rise of 51%, to 134,316 euros per megawatt hour, its largest daily rise in history. The price of electricity in Germany was traded in the afternoon with an increase of 50%, to 297.29 euros per megawatt hour.