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Weak dollar pushes oil above $130 Weak inventories send oil to $132
(about 3 hours later)
Oil prices have hit another intra-day high, breaching $130 a barrel for the first time, on increased concerns about supply and the weaker dollar. Oil prices have hit another intra-day high, breaching $132 a barrel for the first time, on increased concerns about inventory, supply and the weak dollar.
Light, sweet crude for delivery in July hit a peak of $130.47 a barrel before falling back to $129.71. US light, sweet crude for delivery in July rose more than $3 to $132.08 a barrel before falling back to $131.80.
Meanwhile, oil for delivery in 2016 was approaching $140 - suggesting that this is the price firms expect to be paying in eight years' time.Meanwhile, oil for delivery in 2016 was approaching $140 - suggesting that this is the price firms expect to be paying in eight years' time.
Two weeks ago, Goldman Sachs said that a barrel could fetch $200 by 2010.Two weeks ago, Goldman Sachs said that a barrel could fetch $200 by 2010.
In recent weeks, the rise in the oil price has been attributed to nerves about supply. In recent weeks, the rise in the oil price has been attributed to worries about supply.
A US government report showing an unexpected fall in crude stocks over the past week exacerbated nerves and helped to send the oil price higher.
China factorChina factor
However, the dollar weakness is also driving the oil price higher as investors look to buy commodities as a hedge against the currency, observers say. The weakness of the US dollar is also driving the oil price higher as investors look to buy commodities as a hedge against the currency, observers say.
"We've seen an about-face turn on the dollar in the last couple of days," said Mark Pervan, a Melbourne-based senior commodity strategist at ANZ Bank."We've seen an about-face turn on the dollar in the last couple of days," said Mark Pervan, a Melbourne-based senior commodity strategist at ANZ Bank.
"It looked like it was starting to recover, but I think there's a less certain outlook at the minute.""It looked like it was starting to recover, but I think there's a less certain outlook at the minute."
Speculation that China would need to import more fuel in the aftermath of the earthquake there is also supporting prices, analysts say.Speculation that China would need to import more fuel in the aftermath of the earthquake there is also supporting prices, analysts say.
Other factors thought to be spurring the oil price include the limited supply of refined products such as diesel ahead of the US driving season.Other factors thought to be spurring the oil price include the limited supply of refined products such as diesel ahead of the US driving season.