Multilateral negotiators in the capital of Belarus hammered out an “immediate and full” cease-fire agreement in eastern Ukraine that would enter into force during the weekend. Ongoing conflict in the region has put Western powers in a tug-of-war with Russia over Ukraine, a former Soviet republic. The agreement came as the International Monetary Fund extended a $17.5 billion hand to a Ukrainian economy left hobbled by war. That was enough to lift oil markets limping into the second week of February, following last week’s rally that led some analysts to speculate a floor price for crude oil has been reached. The price for the global benchmark Brent gained more than 3 percent early in the trading session to […]