WTI Crude Gains As Banking Fears Ease, Kurdish Oil Exports Remain Suspended

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices have gained 1.6% by midday Thursday, as banking crisis fears further eased and with no resolution in sight yet for the cut-off of the flow of Iraqi Kurdistan oil to Turkey. At 1:39 p.m. EST on Thursday, WTI was trading up 1.66% at $74.18, for a $1.21 gain on the day, while Brent crude was trading up 1.25% at $79.26, for a $0.98 gain on the day. Stock indexes were also trending higher on Thursday, while the dollar declined. Banking fears have not completely dissipated, however. While optimism is rising, fears…