Crude oil prices rose for the third straight day on
On Wednesday, crude-oil futures for light sweet crude for March delivery closed at $74.55/barrel (higher by $0.80 or 1.1%). Earlier during the day, prices dropped almost 1.6%. Last week, crude ended lower by 2.3%. In January 2010, crude ended lower by 8.3%. On a year to date basis, crude is lower by 6.1%.
In the currency market on Wednesday, the dollar went up amid ongoing speculation about loan guarantees for
Fed Chairman Bernanke today indicated in a prepared statement for a testimony before the House Financial Services Committee that the Fed might opt to raise the discount rate before long. Though Bernanke's statement was released, his actual testimony has been postponed.
The EIA reported said today that the world oil market should gradually tighten in 2010 and 2011, as the global economic recovery continues and world oil demand begins to grow again.
The energy department was scheduled to report the weekly inventory report today. Market is expecting a buildup of 1.5 million barrels of crude for last week. But the EIA offices, along with the rest of the federal government in
Among other energy products on Wednesday, gasoline for March rose 1 cent, or 0.6%, to $1.94 a barrel and heating oil for March delivery rose 2 cents, or 1.1%, to $1.96 a barrel.
Also on Wednesday, April natural gas gained 4 cents, or 0.8%, to $5.33 a barrel.
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 30 (0.9%) higher at Rs 3,466/barrel. Natural gas for February delivery closed lower by Rs 0.7 (0.28%) at Rs 247.7/mmbtu.