India, April 17 -- Oil prices extended overnight gains on Thursday and were on track for a weekly rise after the U.S. issued new sanctions targeting Chinese importers of Iranian oil.
Benchmark Brent crude futures were up 0.9 percent at $66.42 in early European trade. WTI crude futures were up 1.1 percent at $63.14 after rising nearly 2 percent on Wednesday.
This week ends a day earlier for commodity traders due to upcoming Good Friday and the Easter Holidays.
Oil prices were finding support from a weaker dollar, signs of progress in U.S.-Japan trade negotiations and news that the U.S. has imposed new sanctions on a Chinese "teapot" refinery and other entities for importing Iranian oil.
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