Crude Oil Futures Rise for First Time in a Week as Stocks Climb, Dollar Weakens

Crude oil rose for the first time in a week as the dollar weakened against the euro, boosting the appeal of commodities as an alternative investment. Oil gained as much as 2.5 percent as the dollar fell to a 12 week low against the euro. Unemployment also dropped in Germany, and confidence in Europe’s economy improved. Futures gave up some of the gain as U.S. equities declined. “The oil market is being set by the financial markets,” said Tim Evans, an energy analyst at Citi Futures Perspective in New York. “We’re back to that kind of correlation trade and not paying so much attention to niggly details like rising inventories and rising OPEC production.”

Crude oil for September delivery gained $1.39, or 1.8 percent, to $78.38 a barrel at the 2:30 p.m. close of floor trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have risen 24 percent in the past year and are up 3.9 percent this month. The dollar fell against a majority of its most traded counterparts. The euro increased 0.7 percent to $1.3088 in New York. Earlier, it climbed to $1.3107 amid the increased European confidence. The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index of 19 commodities advanced 1.6 percent to 270.27, the strongest level since May 4. All of the commodities increased. Investment funds appear to be doing “pretty strong buying” of energy commodities, said Tom Bentz, a senior energy analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. in New York. Gasoline rose 1.6 percent and natural gas 2.4 percent as floor trading closed at 2:30 p.m. in New York.....Read the entire article.

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