After four consecutive sessions of drop, crude oil prices finally rose on
On Monday, crude-oil futures for light sweet crude for March delivery closed at $71.84/barrel (higher by $0.65 or 0.9%). During intra day trading, prices rose to a high of $72.39. Last week, crude had witnessed the biggest percentage daily drop in six months. 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 11%.
In the currency market on Monday, the dollar index, which weighs the strength of dollar against the basket of six other currencies, fell by almost 0.4%. The dollar had risen to seven month high against its counterparts last week.
Among other energy products on Monday, gasoline for March delivery rose 1 cent to end at $1.90 a gallon. Heating oil for March gained 2 cents to $1.89 a gallon.
Also on Monday, natural gas for the same month fell 11 cents (2%) to $5.40 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 10 (0.3%) lower at Rs 3,364/barrel. Natural gas for February delivery closed lower by Rs 1.5 (0.58%) at Rs 256.7/mmbtu.