Crude oil futures fall to Rs 3,235 a barrel

NEW DELHI: Crude oil futures fell by Rs 19 to Rs 3,235 per barrel on Tuesday as speculators reduced positions on profit-taking amid a weakening trend in Asian trade.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for delivery in April dropped by Rs 19, or 0.58 per cent, to Rs 3,235 per barrel in 2,502 lots.

In a likewise manner, the oil for delivery in May fell by Rs 17, or 0.51 per cent, to Rs 3,344 per barrel in 137 lots.

Trading sentiments at futures market were dampened after crude oil prices retreated in Asian trade on Tuesday on profit-taking after rallying in the previous session owing to doubts over the nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers, analysts said.

Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude eased by 35 cents to $51.79, while Brent crude fell 51 cents to $57.61 a barrel in late-morning trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange.