Photograph: Michael M Santiago/Getty ImagesBenchmark oil prices extended gains on Monday, as Wall Street indexes and European shares advanced in choppy trade. Reflecting the increased oil price, shares in oil majors BP and Shell rose 3.1 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively. On the FTSE 250, oil and gas exploration companies Ithaca Energy and Harbour Energy firmed 2.6 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively. EuropeThe pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.58 per cent, while Europe’s broad FTSEurofirst 300 index advanced 0.56 per cent. The S&P 500 Energy Index added 0.9 per cent, with Exxon Mobil and Chevron up 2.1 per cent and 1.3 per cent, respectively.

Source: The Irish Times March 31, 2026 02:25 UTC