The disastrous week for oil prices ended yesterday with a new drop.

Oil prices, namely, weakened on Friday in the international markets to 74 dollars under the pressure of continued turmoil in the financial markets which were fueled by the problems in the banking sector.

The price of a barrel on the London market after noon was lower by 76 cents than at the close of trading yesterday and amounted to $73,94. On the US market, the barrel traded at a lower price of 52 cents, at $67,83.

Markets were rocked this week by the collapse of US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank, and problems at Credit Suisse and US-based First Republic Bank, which caused bank shares to fall sharply.

Investors were reassured by the Swiss central bank, which provided 50 billion francs of aid to Credit Suisse. The situation in the United States calmed down after the decision to pay deposits to all customers and the announcement by major banks of $30 billion in aid for the "First Republic."