Brent crude price hits $50/bbl for first time since March on COVID vaccine optimism

Oil prices climbed more than 4% on Thursday, with Brent surging above $50 a barrel for the first time since early March, fueled by hopes of a faster demand recovery as countries start to roll out COVID-19 vaccines. The bullish sentiment offset a large increase in U.S. crude inventories that showed there was still ample supply available.