<h1>US sanctions on major Russian oil firms lift global crude prices over $2/barrel and trigger mixed market reactions</h1> US-imposed sanctions on major Russian oil firms pushed global crude prices up over USD 2/barrel and produced mixed equity market moves, with US futures marginally mixed and European and Asian indices varying by country. The measures aim to pressure Russia to negotiate and coincide with EU deliberations to expand sanctions and repurpose frozen assets to fund Ukraine. Market reactions included currency moves, sectoral winners and losers-technology and media firms underperformed after weak results, some banks rose on positive earnings, and a meme-stock-driven rally affected certain equities. Gold also rebounded amid the volatility.