Oil price hits six-month high

| Thursday November 4, 2010 00:00

US light crude oil rose by $2 a barrel or 2.5 percent, to $83.45, while London Brent rose by $1.90 to $85.04 a barrel, before both slipped back slightly.

Figures showed that the US manufacturing sector accelerated faster than expected in October. Earlier, figures showed Chinese manufacturing powering ahead. China's official purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 54.7 in October from 53.8 in September, well above analysts' expectations. In the US, the equivalent manufacturing PMI also rose to a higher-than-expected 56.9, up from 54.4 in September. Index figures above 50 suggest expansion of the sector.

The data also helped to push global stock markets higher.

Comments by Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi also helped to boost the price of oil to its highest level since 3 May. 'I would say we are in a very comfortable zone that should continue for some time,' al-Naimi said.

'Producers, consumers and companies are all very happy with this price.' Analysts said that al-Naimi's words comforted oil traders as they 'give assurance that the Saudis won't do anything to prevent a further rise above $80, at least until prices exceed $90,' said Carsten Fritsch at Commerzbank.-(BBC)