(RTTNews) – Crude oil prices showed a lack of direction during the trading day on Friday, following a sharp decline seen in the previous session.
Crude for January delivery was last seen trading at $57.40 a barrel, down $0.20 or 0.4 percent, after falling $0.86 or 1.5 percent to $57.60 a barrel in Thursday’s session.
The day’s volatile trading came as traders kept an eye on the latest developments in Russia-Ukraine as well as rising tensions between the US and Venezuela.
Crude oil prices had risen significantly at the start of the session after the US Treasury imposed new sanctions against three relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as well as six companies shipping the South American country’s oil.
“Nicolás Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said in a statement.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. Reflect the views of.
