Oil futures rose sharply on supply concerns and oil markets received support following data showing that South Korea imported no oil from Iran in September for the first time in six years before US sanctions on Tehran began in November. The second.
Brent crude rose 98 cents, or 1.22 percent, to $ 81.41 a barrel by 0124 GMT, making it the biggest daily gain since Oct. 9.
US crude futures jumped 80 cents, or 1.12 percent, to $ 72.15 a barrel, extending gains on Friday after heavy losses on Wednesday and Thursday.
"The market once again expressed concern about the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which led to higher prices," Wang Xiao, head of oil research at Jotai Junan Futures, wrote in a research note.
