Oil Prices Divided as Brent and Murban Climb in Tokyo Trading
On October 5, 2026, oil prices showed a mixed performance in early Tokyo trading. Brent crude rose to $102.60 per barrel, up 0.38%, while Murban crude climbed to $110.80, gaining 1.30%. In contrast, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slipped slightly to $91.09, down 0.02%, and natural gas fell 0.79% to $3.011.
The divergent movements highlight ongoing uncertainty over Middle East supply routes. Brent, a seaborne benchmark, has carried a wider risk premium due to disruptions and security threats around the Strait of Hormuz. This raises concerns over the cost and reliability of transporting Gulf crude to Asian buyers.
Recent market data showed the Brent-WTI spread at more than $11 per barrel, with analysts attributing the gap partly to the greater exposure of internationally traded crude to maritime disruption. Oil prices have also been supported by tanker shortages, higher insurance costs, and longer voyages, with VLCC freight rates surging to extraordinary levels.
These price movements reflect market conditions at the specific time and may differ from later official settlements or real-time quotes. Some benchmark data may be delayed.