Crude oil futures fall to Rs 5,245 per barrel

Crude oil futures prices fell 0.55 per cent to Rs 5,245 per barrel today as speculators booked profits. However, a firming trend in Asian trade capped the losses.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for delivery in September shed Rs 29 or 0.55 per cent to Rs 5,245 per barrel with a business volume of 16,690 lots.

Similarly, the oil for October delivery moved down by Rs 23 or 0.43 per cent to Rs 5,271 per barrel with a turnover of 5,574 lots.

Marketmen said the fall in crude oil futures prices was due to profit-booking by speculators but a rebound in the Asian region restricted the losses.

Meanwhile, crude oil for delivery in October gained 46 cents to $97.08 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.