SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — U.S. crude-oil futures topped $100 a barrel Tuesday, spurred by higher equity markets, a weaker dollar, and lingering geopolitical concerns surrounding Iran.
Crude-oil futures for February delivery /quotes/zigman/2203132 CL2G +3.76% rose $3.45, or 3.5%, to $102.26 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract traded as high as $102.30 a barrel earlier.
Crude ended the year with a gain of 8.2% for 2011, with the last trading days dominated by fears around Iran’s military exercises and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, crossroads of the oil trading.
“As worries remain that further sanctions against Iran by Western nations may disrupt supplies, an undercurrent of support for prices remains,” said Matt Smith, an analyst with Summit Energy, in a note to clients.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Crude tops $100/barrel a barrel on stocks, Iran - Futures Movers - MarketWatch
Late-surging Santorum looks to rally voters ahead of Iowa caucuses - CNN
Rick Santorum started the new year riding the wave of a strong finish in the last major poll before Tuesday's Iowa caucuses and looked to rally his supporters in a series of events on Sunday.
There were few surprises in Saturday night's Des Moines Register poll -- front-runners Mitt Romney and Ron Paul finished 1-2 as they had in other polls during the week. But the Register poll showed Santorum, who just weeks ago had registered only in single digits, pulling ahead of rivals Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry.
Crude Advances Amid Manufacturing Expansion, Tension Over Iran - Businessweek
Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Oil climbed in New York after manufacturing activity in China and India expanded, while concern persisted that further sanctions against Iran may disrupt supply.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Gold, silver gain after Iran nuclear reports
Gold and silver gained after reports that Iran produced its first nuclear fuel rod, spurring investors to buy the precious metal as a haven.
Gold for immediate delivery advanced 0.2 per cent to $US1566.27 an ounce in New York. Silver was 0.1 per cent higher at $US27.8625 an ounce. Gold rose 10 per cent last year, the 11th straight annual gain, and silver dropped 9.9 per cent.
A domestically made rod was inserted into the core of Tehran's atomic research reactor after performance tests, the Iranian Students News Agency reported today, citing the country's atomic energy agency. The Tehran reactor produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment, according to Mehr news agency. Nuclear fuel rods contain pellets of enriched uranium that provide fuel for nuclear power plants.
Iowans consider the GOP candidates up close – USATODAY.com
DES MOINES – Mary Troll watched former House speaker Newt Gingrich cry as he talked about his late mother and she considered the campaign pitch of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but as the moment of decision nears in Iowa she finds herself leaning toward former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum.
