Oil prices rose this evening in continued volatile trading as weak consumer US sentiment data curbed an earlier boost from stronger stock markets and a rise in US retail sales.
US consumer sentiment fell sharply in early August, to the lowest index level since 1980, even though retail sales posted their biggest gains in three months in July, separate reports showed.
Shares had received a boost earlier when a ban on short-selling financial stocks in four European countries including France took effect.
Brent crude rose 35 cents to $108.37 a barrel, while US crude rose 50 cents to $86.22.
