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Crude oil prices rose on Monday as storms closed in on the Gulf of Mexico, shutting more than half its oil production, and on signs of progress in development of a Covid-19 treatment.<\/p>\n
Brent crude was up 33 cents, or 0.7%, at $44.68 a barrel by 1033 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 32 cents, or 0.8%, to $42.66. <\/p>\n
\u201cPrices are taking their cues from Mother Nature this morning as two storms bear down on the Gulf of Mexico. Half of the region\u2019s production has been shut down, though gains will be limited by the threat of a second prolonged Covid wave,\u201d said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.<\/p>\n
Energy companies shut more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of offshore crude oil production in the US Gulf of Mexico because of the twin threat from Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura. Workers have been evacuated from more than 100 production platforms. <\/p>\n
Also read:\u2009Tropical storm Marco approaches Louisiana for expected landfall<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u201cWhile there is a focus on oil production at the moment, we will need to keep an eye on refining activity, which is vulnerable to flooding. The US Gulf is a key refining hub,\u201d said Warren Patterson, ING\u2019s head of commodities strategy. <\/p>\n Also supporting prices was a report by the Financial Times that US President Donald Trump is considering fast-tracking an experimental Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.<\/p>\n