* Cold weather hits U.S., Europe, Asia
* Russia resumes oil to Belarus refineries
* U.S. manufacturing sector grows in December-ISM
(Updates throughout, changes dateline from previous LONDON)
NEW YORK, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Oil rose more than 2 percent to
touch two-month highs over $81 a barrel on Monday as cold
weather battered the United States and other big consumer
regions, driving up demand for heating fuel.
Frigid temperatures are expected to drive up U.S. heating
demand to 21 percent above normal, with consumption in the U.S.
Northeast, the largest heating oil market, seen up 11 percent
above average levels. [] []
Unusually cold weather in Britain is expected to continue
into the second half of January after the coldest December
since 1995, said the UK's official weather center.
[] Colder temperatures in Europe were seen
gradually spreading from the northeast to southwest during the
next few days, boosting energy consumption. []
Heavy snows and biting cold also hit parts of Asia on
Monday, with unusually harsh winter weather snarling up
transport across north China, South Korea and India.
[]
Heating oil futures led the U.S. oil complex higher, with
U.S. crude for February delivery <CLc1> trading up $1.92 to
$81.28 a barrel by 12:13 p.m. EST (1713 GMT), after earlier
touching $81.68, the highest level since Oct. 23. Brent crude
<LCOc1> climbed $1.93 to $79.86 a barrel.
"Cold temperatures in the U.S., part of a global cold
front, and a weak dollar are driving oil prices higher," said
Phil Flynn, PFGBest Research in Chicago.
The dollar slid on Monday as investors locked in recent
gains ahead of U.S. economic data this week that could firmly
dictate the currency's direction in the coming months. []
Over the past year, some investors have sold safe-haven
plays such as the dollar and bought oil futures following
positive economic data.
Crude markets have been looking to wider economic data for
signs of a turnaround that could bolster flagging oil demand.
Expectations of a demand rebound helped push up crude prices by
78 percent in 2009.
U.S. stocks jumped after data showed a fifth straight month
of expansion in the manufacturing sector and semiconductor
stocks gained on a brokerage upgrade of Intel. []
The Institute for Supply Management said its index of
national factory activity rose for a fifth consecutive month
and neared a four-year high in December. []
Markets were also keeping a close eye on an oil pricing
dispute between Russia and Belarus that briefly cut off
supplies to the Eastern European nation. Russia on Monday said
had resumed supplies to refineries in Belarus, but tensions are
still simmering. []
Belarus officials earlier on Monday warned it may cut
electricity supplies to Russia, ratcheting up tensions in the
dispute that broke out on New Year's Eve and raised the specter
of another winter of supply disruptions for European Union
customers. For a factbox on the pipeline click on
[]
Positive economic data from China and India added to the
bullish sentiment.
China's factories cranked up production in December, while
the rate of growth in Indian manufacturing rose for the first
time in three months in December, surveys showed.
[] []
(Reporting by Matthew Robinson, Robert Gibbons and Gene Ramos;
Alex Lawler in London; Fayen Wong in Perth; Editing by Lisa
Shumaker)
