NYMEX-Crude price rises on weaker dollar, econ data

                                
 PERTH, March 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose half a percent
on Monday, recouping some of the previous session's losses,
thanks to a weaker dollar and positive Asian economic data that
helped brighten the outlook for global economy.
                                
 FUNDAMENTALS
                                
 * NYMEX crude for May delivery rose 47 cents to $80.47 a
barrel by 0031 GMT. The contract settled down 53 cents at
$80.00 per barrel on Friday after data showed the U.S. economy
grew less than expected last quarter.
                                
 * Canada will press the Group of Eight leading
industrialized nations to tighten United Nations sanctions on
Iran when it hosts a meeting of foreign ministers from the
grouping on Monday and Tuesday. [ID:nN28222051]
                                
 * South Korea's current account swung back to a surplus in
February on brisk exports after setting its first deficit in a
year in January, easing some of the concerns about slowing
momentum in the global economy. [ID:nTOE62R01C]
                                
 * Japanese retail sales rose 4.2 percent in February from a
year earlier, more than a median forecast for a 1.8 percent
annual increase, government data showed on Monday.
[ID:nTKU105912]
                                
 MARKETS NEWS
                                
 * The dollar index <.DXY> was down 0.27 percent at 81.45,
while the euro jumped in early Asian trade on Monday on
continued short covering by investors, extending broad gains
made late last week after euro zone leaders approved a safety
net for debt-laden Greece. [USD/]
                                
 * The Dow industrials <.DJI> could hit 11,000 this week as
investors bet the U.S. labour market had a significant
turnaround in March, showing the economic recovery is in good
shape. [ID:nN28243862]
                                
 * The Dow and S&P <.SPX> ended flat on Friday, giving back
earlier gains after the sinking of a South Korean naval ship,
while tech shares' weakness kept the Nasdaq in a slightly
negative territory. [.N]
                                
 South Korea has all but ruled out any North Korean
involvement in the sinking of its ship.
                                
 DATA/EVENTS
                                
 * The following data is expected on Monday:
                                
 - Britain money supply, mortgage approvals (0830 GMT)
                                
 - Eurozone business climate, economic sentiment (0900 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. consumption, adjusted (1230 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. core PEC price index (1230 GMT)
                                
 - U.S. personal consumption, income (1230 GMT)
                                
 RELATED NEWS > Oil falls to $80 as U.S. revises GDP down   
 [ID:nSGE62P08C] > Commodities ends down a straight week; CRB
low[ID:nN26237272] > U.S 4th-quarter growth revised slightly
lower [ID:nN26140498] PRICES
                                
  Oil prices as of 0049 GMT          
 Contract Mnth    Price  Change  Day ago     pct     MA-20*
 NYMEX Contracts
 US Crude MAY0   $80.45   +0.45   -$0.53  -0.66%     $81.07
 Heat Oil APR0   208.25   +1.28    +0.04  +0.02%     208.81
 RBOB     APR0   221.40   +0.66    -1.03  -0.46%     224.98
 Natgas   APR0   $3.855  -0.017  -$0.109  -2.74%     $4.361
 ICE Contracts
 Brent    MAY0   $79.67   +0.38   -$0.32  -0.40%     $79.66
 Gasoil   APR0  $665.75   +5.50   -$4.00  -0.60%    $657.70
 Note: U.S. heating oil and RBOB gasoline contracts listed in
cents per gallon.
 * = 20-day moving average for continuation month.
 (Reporting by Fayen Wong; Editing by Kim Coghill)