Crude oil futures firm, up 0.2% on overseas cues

Upbeat US durable goods data triggered the uptrend globally

Crude oil futures for February gained Rs 8, or 0.23%, to Rs 5,225 per barrel in 4,640 lots.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, the March contract moved up by Rs 12, or 0.23%, to Rs 5,269 per barrel in 361 lots.

Fresh positions by speculators supported the trade.  

Upbeat US durable goods data and geopolitical concerns in Egypt and Algeria strengthened the global crude oil futures trade.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), crude oil for March advanced by 20 cents to $96.64 a barrel.