Oil futures were up strongly Monday, with Brent crude on track for its first finish above $80 a barrel since August, as investors assess the potential hit to supply from a further tightening of U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil sector.

Oil surpassed $80 a barrel as traders digested a report that Indian oil processors are bracing for new US sanctions that would hit flows from Russia.

Oil prices eased on Tuesday but remained near four-month highs as the impact of fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil remained the market's main focus, ahead of U.S. inflation data this week. Brent futures slipped 53 cents,