Crude price hovers near $101 as U.S. supplies riseOctober 10, 2013 - 11:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Oil prices clawed back a little ground Thursday, Oct 10, a day after a big drop precipitated by an increase in U.S. crude inventories, the Associated Press reports. Benchmark oil for November delivery was up 15 cents to $101.76 a barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract for the benchmark grade fell $1.88 to close at $101.61 on Wednesday. The American Petroleum Institute said crude supplies rose by 2.7 million barrels to 366.5 million barrels for the week ending Oct 4. The U.S. Energy Department said supplies rose by 6.8 million barrels. The jump in stockpiles comes at a time of year when demand from oil refineries is seasonally weak. "Supply is relatively plentiful and inventories are building up again as the summer driving season ends," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney. Oil prices have bounced between $101 and $104 a barrel after the U.S. government was forced to partially halt operations last week. The shutdown occurred after Congress failed to pass a bill on short-term funding for the nation past the end of the government's fiscal year on Sept 30. Brent, the benchmark for international crudes, rose 45 cents to $109.51 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |