Middle East crude holds strength on exports to Europel | Reuters

Middle East crude values remained firm on Thursday as shipments found their way to Europe, where high prices were drawing Oman supplies into the Mediterranean.

High prices for Atlantic basin crudes because of production
issues in the North Sea are rendering imports from the Middle
East attractive, at a time when requirements for the region's
crude increase in Asia ahead of the heating season.

Oman crude values for November cargoes were supported at a
premium of about 90 cents to Dubai quotes, up from 75 cents
earlier this week for October lots and discounts as deep as 30
cents last month when trading of October cargoes started.

* username: rupertbu