US crude rose 53 cents to $91.52 a barrel this afternoon after rallying from session lows a day earlier as US stock markets shrugged off losses.
London Brent crude was 53 cents up at $91.91 a barrel, maintaining its recently acquired premium to US crude.
European shares rose to the day's highs, tracking gains in global markets on expectations the US Federal Reserve would announce yet another aggressive cut in interest rates this week to ward off a recession.