Crude oil futures ended higher on Thursday as a fall in US weekly jobless claims to a new pandemic low and progress toward a fresh coronavirus aid package boosted prospects for energy demand. Oil prices also found support after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said his country has not ruled out delaying production increases by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies that are set to be implemented in January. The group of producers, collectively known as OPEC+, includes Russia.
Crude oil futures for December gained 61 cents or 1.5 percent to settle at $40.64 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. December Brent crude rose 73 cents or 1.8 percent to settle at $42.46 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.