Friday, January 10, 2014

USA POOR JOB NUMBERS SPIKE UP OIL PRICES!!?

Brent crude rose above $107 a barrel on Friday amid worries about supply from North Africa, and boosted by speculation that weak U.S. jobs data could prompt the Federal Reserve to keep its stimulus flowing.

Oil markets offered a muted reaction to mixed Chinese trade data released on Friday, with traders now waiting for a key report on U.S. jobs that are forecast to have risen by a solid 196,000 in December.


Brent crude was up 80 cents over $107 per barrel, after settling 76 cents lower in a volatile session that saw the contract swinging by more than $2. 

The benchmark was on track to end the week flat, as investors weighed rising production in Libya with increased tension in the country and elsewhere in the region.

U.S. oil was up more $1 under $93 per barrel, after touching an eight-month low of $91.24 on Thursday and on course to end lower for the second straight week.

Oil prices were helped by data showing the U.S. economy created a slim 74,000 jobs, far less than estimates. The data prompted new speculation that the Fed would likely continue to jolt the economy with its bond buying.

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