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Oil prices hover near record $142 Oil breaks new ground above $143
(about 11 hours later)
The cost of crude oil rose on Monday to close to $142 a barrel ahead of a meeting of oil-producing nations in Madrid to discuss soaring prices. Crude oil prices have surged to near $144 a barrel as producing nations and the world's largest oil firms meet in Madrid to discuss soaring prices.
General concerns over global supplies and escalating rhetoric between Iran and Israel have pushed prices to fresh highs in recent days.General concerns over global supplies and escalating rhetoric between Iran and Israel have pushed prices to fresh highs in recent days.
An emergency summit held in Jeddah earlier this month has done little to take the heat out of the market. US light, sweet crude rose as much as $3.46 to a record $143.67 a barrel.
Light, sweet crude rose $1.60 to $141.81 in trading in Asia. The price later fell below $140 after figures showed demand for oil in the US had fallen in April.
This was not far off the $142.99 all-time high reached on Friday. The US Energy Information Administration said demand was 19.76 million barrels per day in April, 3.9% lower than a year earlier.
In London, Brent crude was trading up $1.57 at $141.88, having hit $142.13 on Friday. The release of the monthly data caused oil prices to fall. In New York, US light, sweet crude fell by about $1 to $139.17.
In London, Brent crude, which had climbed as high as $143.81 a barrel, was trading at $139.54 after the figures were released.
Iranian tensionsIranian tensions
A combination of the weak US dollar, surging demand and concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East and Africa have forced prices up more than 40% this year.A combination of the weak US dollar, surging demand and concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East and Africa have forced prices up more than 40% this year.
The problems are above ground not below it Tony Hayward, BP chief executive Madrid meeting seeks solutionsThe problems are above ground not below it Tony Hayward, BP chief executive Madrid meeting seeks solutions
In the latest war of words between Israel and Iran about the latter's nuclear intentions, a commander of Iran's revolutionary guard was quoted as saying that it could take control of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway if attacked by Israel.In the latest war of words between Israel and Iran about the latter's nuclear intentions, a commander of Iran's revolutionary guard was quoted as saying that it could take control of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway if attacked by Israel.
More than 60% of the world's oil is transported through the Strait, making its smooth functioning vital to the global oil markets.More than 60% of the world's oil is transported through the Strait, making its smooth functioning vital to the global oil markets.
Recent commitments by Saudi Arabia to increase production have seemingly done little to assuage concerns about the global availability of oil.Recent commitments by Saudi Arabia to increase production have seemingly done little to assuage concerns about the global availability of oil.
Measures to combat high prices and to increase long-term supplies are top of the agenda at the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid, which begins on Monday. Measures to combat high prices and to increase long-term supplies were top of the agenda at the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid, which began on Monday.
Ministers from Opec nations will again come under pressure to boost output, although many officials continue to blame market speculation from the rise in prices this year. Ministers from Opec nations again came under pressure to boost output, although many officials continue to blame market speculation from the rise in prices this year.
'No bubble''No bubble'
Many leading oil producers, which are also attending the meeting, take a different view. Many leading oil producers take a different view.
"This is not a speculative bubble," BP chief executive Tony Hayward told the meeting."This is not a speculative bubble," BP chief executive Tony Hayward told the meeting.
Alluding to differences of opinion among Opec members about how much oil to pump and what should be a reasonable price for oil, Mr Hayward said the industry's "problems are above ground not below it".Alluding to differences of opinion among Opec members about how much oil to pump and what should be a reasonable price for oil, Mr Hayward said the industry's "problems are above ground not below it".
Experts added that the meeting must address where long-term growth in energy supply should come from and the environmental costs involved.Experts added that the meeting must address where long-term growth in energy supply should come from and the environmental costs involved.
"Increasing population growth, energy intensity and globalization has led to a phenomenal rise in the use of energy," said Randy Gossen, president of the World Petroleum Council."Increasing population growth, energy intensity and globalization has led to a phenomenal rise in the use of energy," said Randy Gossen, president of the World Petroleum Council.
"The challenge for our industry is to ensure continuous, affordable and reliable energy supply in a sustainable, transparent and ethical, environmentally sound manner.""The challenge for our industry is to ensure continuous, affordable and reliable energy supply in a sustainable, transparent and ethical, environmentally sound manner."