Oil prices extend gains in Asia

SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended their gains in Asia Tuesday as investors cheered robust economic data from the US, China and Japan, with the breakdown of initial Ukraine-Russia talks to avert a gas cut-off also boosting prices.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for July gained 39 cents to $104.80 a barrel in afternoon trade after jumping $1.75 in New York on Monday. Brent North Sea crude was up 14 cents to $110.13 for its July contract after leaping $1.38 in London trade.