•Global crude futures recovered Friday from Thursday's late selloff, with Tropical Storm Gustav and protective covering ahead of the US' holiday weekend the primary causes for the upward move, market sources said.

•Early morning market sentiment suggests that Tropical Storm Gustav is still weighing on traders' minds despite earlier news that oil supply will be replenished in the event of any losses in US Gulf production. "I think this is a protective trade given more energy companies preparing for Gustav, which might strengthen on the weekend," a London-based broker said.

•The buoyancy of the crude oil futures market comes following a late sell-off staged on Thursday evening, after reassuring announcements from the International Energy Agency and the US' Energy Information Administration about crude supplies following Gustav's arrival.

Updated: August 29, 2008