Crude oil futures held steady on Friday as mixed U.S. economic news offset worries the European Union's latest sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine could reduce oil supplies.

Yet Russia has so far managed to sell most of its oil - the lifeblood of its state finances - above the previous price cap as the current mechanism makes it unclear who must polic

The European Union has approved a new package of sanctions on Russia, including restrictions on banking and fuels made from Russian petroleum, and a revised oil price cap – the 18th raft of measures since the country’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.