Oil mixed as dollar rises, EU looks less likely to ban Russian oil

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A Russian state flag flies on the top of a diesel plant in the Yarakta Oil Field, owned by Irkutsk Oil Company (INK), in Irkutsk Region, Russia March 10, 2019. Picture taken March 10, 2019. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) -Oil was trading mixed on Tuesday as the dollar strengthened and it looked unlikely that the European Union would pursue an embargo on Russian oil, a day after prices jumped 7% and also rose earlier in the session.

EU foreign ministers are split on whether to join the United States in banning Russian oil. Some countries, including Germany, say the bloc is too dependent on Russia's fossil fuels to withstand such a step.

"It's pretty clear that the German economy will seize up so the EU is backing away from a Russian ban," said John Kilduff, partner at Again LLC in New York.

Brent crude rose 86 cents, or 0.6%, to $116.48 a barrel by 1:47 p.m. EST. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 34 cents, or 0.3%, to $111.78. On Monday, both contracts had settled up more than 7%.

Oil was pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, which gained a day after comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell flagged a more aggressive tightening of monetary policy. [USD/]

A strong dollar makes crude more expensive for other currency holders and tends to weigh on risk appetite.

"The word 'transitory' regarding inflation is a distant memory, chiefly due to rising commodity prices," said Tamas Varga of broker PVM. "Central banks, led by the Federal Reserve, stand ready to increase the cost of borrowing significantly."

Earlier this month, Brent hit $139 a barrel, the highest since 2008.

Oil prices drew support from threats to supply as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group attacked Saudi energy and water desalination facilities. On Monday, Saudi Arabia said it would not bear responsibility for any global supply shortages after the attacks by the Houthis, signaling growing Saudi frustration with Washington's handling of Yemen and Iran.

The oil market will watch the latest round of U.S. inventory data. Analysts expect no change in crude oil stocks. The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, issues its supply report on Tuesday. [EIA/S]

(Additional reporting Alex Lawler, by Mohi Narayan and Liz Hampton; Editing by Barbara Lewis, Kirsten Donovan and Andrea Ricci)