#RussiaUkraineConflict: Oil prices surge towards $100 per barrel

The price of Brent crude hit $102.30 a barrel at one point has reached the highest level for more than seven years.

Russia is the second biggest exporter of crude oil, as well as the world’s largest natural gas exporter.

On the other hand, European gas prices have jumped more than 40% on Thursday.

Stock markets fell, with the UK’s FTSE 100 index opening down more than 2.6%.

Following the attack on Ukraine, the stocks in Asia had fallen sharply on Thursday.

As being reported, around 31 Russian companies are traded on the London stock exchange, as state-owned banks, Sberbank and VTB, along with state-backed oil and gas producers Gazprom and Rosneft have secondary listings here.

Reportedly, the stocks of the companies have tanked:

• Sberbank has lost 75% and VTB fell almost 22%.
• Gazprom is down 36%,
• Rosneft has dropped 23%
• Lukoil has tumbled nearly 44%.

Furthermore, the Anglo-Russian minder Polymetal is the top faller on the FTSE 100 now, down 42%, with the Russian mining group Evraz in second place, down nearly 30%

Meanwhile, the Moscow Exchange suspended trading shortly after the rouble plunged to its lowest since early 2016.

Overall, the markets are in turmoil as oil prices soar by 6% to seven-year highs, gas prices jump 40%, rouble falls to record low and Russian bonds sell-off.

The price of gold, which is considered a haven asset in times of uncertainty,  has also risen by  2%.