TOKYO, Oct 4 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures stood steady
above $81, near their highest levels in almost two months on
Monday, helped as the dollar stayed near a six-month low against
the euro.
FUNDAMENTALS
* NYMEX crude for November delivery <CLc1> was up 4 cents at
$81.62 a barrel by 2255 GMT, after settling up $1.61 at $81.58 on
Friday.
The contract rose as high as $81.87 on Monday, the highest
since $82.67 hit on Aug. 6. Oil rose 6.7 percent last week, its
best weekly gain since prices rose 7.7 percent in the week to
Feb. 19 as the dollar slumped and China posted strong economic
data.
* Russian oil output hit a new record of 10.16 million
barrels per day in September as fields returned from maintenance,
beating the last all-time high in July, Energy Ministry data
showed on Saturday. []
* U.S. heating oil's premium over gasoline rose to its
highest level since January 2009 on Friday, supported by rising
demand, large exports of distillate fuels and the approach of the
Northern Hemisphere winter. []
The front-month heating oil contract's premium over RBOB
gasoline futures <RBc1> hit a peak of almost 24 cents on Friday.
* The United States and Britain warned their citizens on
Sunday of an increased risk of terrorist attacks in Europe, with
Washington saying al Qaeda might target transport infrastructure.
Western intelligence sources said militants in hide-outs in
northwest Pakistan had been plotting coordinated attacks on
European cities, the plans apparently surviving setbacks from a
September surge in drone strikes and an arrest. []
MARKETS NEWS
* Wall Street extended the rally on Friday, led by gains in
resource stocks after data in China showed a pick-up in
manufacturing activity.
The strength of that momentum will be tested this week by a
round of economic data, including the much-watched non-farm
payrolls report, as well as the start of third-quarter earnings
season.
* The dollar hit a six-month low against the euro on Friday
after a Federal Reserve official said U.S. growth has been
generally disappointing, which strengthened the case for more
quantitative easing. []
DATA/EVENTS
* The following data is expected on Monday: (Times in GMT)
- 0800 - Italian Deficit/GPD Ratio for Q2
- 0830 - Euro Zone Sentix Index/Oct
- 0830 - U.K. Markit/CIPS Cons PMI/Sept
- 0900 - Euro Zone Producer Prices/Aug
- 1400 - US Durable Goods/Aug
- 1400 - US Factory Orders/Aug
- 1400 - US Pending Homes Index/Aug
- n/a - Bank of Japan starts 2-day policy meeting
RELATED NEWS
> Iraq says oil exports rise to 2.021 mln bpd in Sept[]
> Morgan Stanley buys $3.1 bln in Petrobras stock []
PRICES
Oil prices as of 2255 GMT
Contract Mnth Price Change Day ago pct MA-20*
NYMEX Contracts
US Crude NOV0 $81.62 +0.04 +$1.61 +2.01% $75.96
Heat Oil NOV0 229.70 +0.32 +2.60 +1.15% 212.78
RBOB NOV0 209.31 +0.70 +5.00 +2.46% 195.57
Natgas NOV0 $3.782 -0.015 -$0.075 -1.94% $3.906
ICE Contracts
Brent NOV0 $83.69 -0.06 +$1.44 +1.75% $78.95
Gasoil OCT0 -- +0.00 +$13.00 +1.84% $675.10
Note: U.S. heating oil and RBOB gasoline contracts listed in
cents per gallon.
* = 20-day moving average for continuation month.
(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
