Brent crude jumps 51% since start of March and gold suffers fifth-largest monthly fall in 50 years Middle East crisis – latest updates Brent crude jumps 51% since start of March and gold suffers fifth-largest monthly fall in 50 years Middle East crisis – latest updates The Brent crude oil price is on track for its biggest monthly gain on record in March after the Iran war caused mayhem in the markets. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has climbed by 51% since the start of March, LSEG