January Brent crude oil futures rose 4.27% to $74.65 a barrel. This was followed by changes in the foreign exchange market.
Judging by the data of the Moscow Exchange, the rate of the US dollar calculated for "tomorrow" as of 07:06 Moscow time was 74.9 rubles, which is 71 kopecks less than the previous figure. The euro fell by 1.03 rubles to 84.47 rubles.
The bi-currency basket value decreased by 1.01 rubles to 79.04 rubles. The cost of American WTI crude oil fell to $ 71.2 per barrel.
Oil prices on the evening of November 26 fell to two-month lows. The price of North Sea oil Brent fell to $ 73.93 per barrel - by 10.5%.
The reason for the sharp drop in the value of futures is information on the identification of a new strain of COVID-19 in South Africa. The Omicron strain has already spread throughout the Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Great Britain, China and Japan.