Crude oil prices ended higher on
Strong economic reports generally tend to push crude prices higher on anticipation of higher demand in coming months. The weak dollar further aided crude's climb today.
On Tuesday, crude-oil futures for light sweet crude for March delivery closed at $77.23/barrel (higher by $2.8 or 3.6%). Last week, crude ended lower by 2.4%. In January 2010, crude ended lower by 8.3%. On a year to date basis, crude is still lower by 4%.
Market is expecting tomorrow's weekly inventory report to show a drop of 1 million barrels for crude stockpiles and a buildup of 1.5 millions for gasoline stockpiles.
A fire at a refinery of Valero Energy of
Among economic data expected for the day, The National Association of Realtors reported on
As per the report, the pending home sales index rose 1% in December after plunging 16.4% in November, with buyers reacting first to the expiration and then to the return of the tax credit. The index was up 10.9% compared with December 2008. In December, existing-home sales fell 16.7%.
Separately, the Commerce Department reported on
In the currency market on Tuesday, the dollar index, which weighs the strength of dollar against the basket of six other currencies, fell by almost 0.3%.
Among other energy products on Tuesday, gasoline for March delivery rallied 8.8 cents, or 4.6%, to $2.02 a gallon. Heating oil for March rose 8.5 cents, or 4.3%, to $2.03 a gallon.
Also on Tuesday, natural gas for the same month rose 1.7 cents, or 0.3%, to $5.45 per million British thermal units.
Crude ended FY 2009 higher by 78%, the highest yearly gain since 1999. It reached a high of $82 earlier in October 2009 and hit a low of $33.98 on
At the MCX, crude oil for February delivery closed Rs 119 (3.5%) higher at Rs 3,554/barrel. Natural gas for February delivery closed higher by Rs 2.9 (1.15%) at Rs 253.5/mmbtu.