Oil crosses $129 for first time, heads for $130

 

Oil prices hit a new trading high today, as much as $129.46, on supply concerns.

Prices are currently being driven higher by supply concerns. This latest surge comes after OPEC's president was quoted as saying his organization won't increase its output before its next meeting in September.

The imminent expiration of the June contract is adding to the volatility, and raised the very real possibility that crude could hit $130 before the end of the day, when the contract ends.

The contract reached a new closing high of $127.05 Monday after Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil, the current president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was quoted by a government newspaper as saying OPEC won't increase its output during the U.S. summer driving season, which begins this weekend. OPEC's next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Concern about supply has recently become the primary driver of the market, replacing earlier worries about a weakening dollar, and not even Saudi Arabia's promise last week of an additional 300,000 barrels of crude a day could alleviate those new concerns.

Despite that pledge from the world's leading oil producer and the U.S. move to temporarily stop filling government stockpiles, prices have shown no indication of stopping their record run.

Through Monday's close, the front-month contract has hit nine trading or closing records in 11 sessions. Analysts have said speculative buying has also contributed to oil's record high run.

In other news lifting prices, independent refiner Holly Corp. said a key unit at its New Mexico refinery was shut down for repairs, cutting estimated May gasoline production by as much as 756,000 gallons per day. The shutdown occurred while the fluid catalytic cracking unit was being brought back online from a previous shutdown May 7.

The refinery in Artesia, New Mexico, is Holly's largest.

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