الرئيسية
Iranian leader threatens retaliation for oil embargo
* Increase in U.S. nonfarm payrolls lifts oil prices
* Coming up: API oil data 4:30 p.m. EST Tuesday
(Recasts, updates prices to settlement)
NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Brent crude prices rose to
a near three-month peak on Friday in heavy volume
trading after a report showed the U.S. economy in January
created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months, fueling hopes
of stronger demand in the top petroleum-consuming nation.
Both Brent and U.S. crude extended gains late as the euro
recovered against the dollar and as oil investors covered short
positions ahead of the weekend, eyeing simmering tensions
between tensions with the West over Tehran's nuclear program.
Oil had initially rallied ahead of the jobs report after
Iran's supreme leader warned of retaliation over "threats of oil
embargo and war."
"The euro came back and there were shorts being covered
ahead of the weekend with the situations in Iran and Greece
still out there," said Stephen Schork, president at the Schork
Group.
Brent March crude rose $2.51 to settle at $114.58 a
barrel, a fourth straight rise and the highest settlement since
Nov. 8. For the week, Brent was up 2.8 percent.
U.S. crude futures, snapping a string of five straight lower
settlements, rose $1.48 to settlement $97.84 a barrel. But it
posted a 1.73 percent weekly loss.
Brent crude trading volume was 28 percent above the 30-day
average, with U.S. turnover 30 percent above its 30-day average
in post-settlement trading.
* Increase in U.S. nonfarm payrolls lifts oil prices
* Coming up: API oil data 4:30 p.m. EST Tuesday
(Recasts, updates prices to settlement)
NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Brent crude prices rose to
a near three-month peak on Friday in heavy volume
trading after a report showed the U.S. economy in January
created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months, fueling hopes
of stronger demand in the top petroleum-consuming nation.
Both Brent and U.S. crude extended gains late as the euro
recovered against the dollar and as oil investors covered short
positions ahead of the weekend, eyeing simmering tensions
between tensions with the West over Tehran's nuclear program.
Oil had initially rallied ahead of the jobs report after
Iran's supreme leader warned of retaliation over "threats of oil
embargo and war."
"The euro came back and there were shorts being covered
ahead of the weekend with the situations in Iran and Greece
still out there," said Stephen Schork, president at the Schork
Group.
Brent March crude rose $2.51 to settle at $114.58 a
barrel, a fourth straight rise and the highest settlement since
Nov. 8. For the week, Brent was up 2.8 percent.
U.S. crude futures, snapping a string of five straight lower
settlements, rose $1.48 to settlement $97.84 a barrel. But it
posted a 1.73 percent weekly loss.
Brent crude trading volume was 28 percent above the 30-day
average, with U.S. turnover 30 percent above its 30-day average
in post-settlement trading.