RoydadNaft –  Oil futures climbed on Monday after Saudi Arabia hiked June crude prices for most regions and as the prospect of a Gaza ceasefire deal appeared slim, renewing fears the Israel-Hamas conflict could still widen in the key oil producing region.

Brent crude futures gained 73 cents, or 0.9%, to $83.69 a barrel at 0852 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $78.95 a barrel, up 84 cents, or 1.1%.

Last week, both futures contracts posted their steepest weekly loss in three months with Brent falling more than 7% and WTI down 6.8%, as investors weighed weak U.S. jobs data and the possible timing of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

The geopolitical risk premium in oil prices also eased as talks for a Gaza ceasefire were underway.

“News that Israel wants to go ahead and extend its operation into Rafah, risks derailing a potential ceasefire agreement and reigniting Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions which had appeared to be easing,” IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said.

Also supporting oil was Saudi Arabia’s move to raise the official selling prices (OSPs) for its crude sold to Asia, Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean in June, signalling expectations of strong demand this summer.

This comes after Saudi Arabia raised June OSPs for most regions amid a tightening of supplies this quarter, he added.