Oil closes higher, with Brent accumulating gains of around 9% for the week.

The May contract of WTI crude oil negotiated in New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) It ended this Friday (20) with a strong increase of 1.91%, quoted at US$ 94.74/barrel. The expiry of the same month for the Brent advanced 3.26% in Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), trading at US$112.19/barrel. 

During the week, futures closed in opposite directions overall. On the one hand, Brent crude posted gains of 8.77%, while WTI crude fell 4.02%.

In this trading session, prices continued to be affected by market sentiment regarding the war in Middle EastThe president of United States, Donald Trump, stated that he is considering the plan to invade and occupy the Kharg Island, controlled by Iran, with the aim of pressuring the Persian country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Furthermore, as reported by Reuters, you The US is sending thousands of marines and sailors. to the Middle East.

THE threat to supply The region's situation is one of the market's main concerns. The director of International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih BirolHe warned that it could take six months for oil and gas flows from the Persian Gulf be restored. 

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.