CRUDE OIL

China's voracious appetite for commodities lifted imports of copper and iron ore to new highs in April, despite a global economic slowdown, while the world'sdemand for China's exports remained weak.

Oil prices rose more than a dollar on Tuesday to a six-month high above $59 a barrel, boosted partly by a weaker dollar and gains on equity markets in Europe.

Oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, which produces about 25 percent of domestic oil production and 15 percent of natural gas output, could boom more than 1.8 million barrels per day by 2013, according to the government research, however its natural gas will likely to decrease.

Exxon Mobil Corp , the world's largest publicly traded company, posted a 58 percent drop in quarterly profit, missing Wall Street estimates, as the global recession sliced into demand for crude oil and depressed prices.

Oil prices climbed toward $51 per barrel on Wednesday as optimism that the U.S. recession was easing boosted markets and raised expectations of a rebound in energy demand from the world's largest consumer.

Oil prices climbed toward $51 per barrel on Wednesday as optimism that the U.S. recession was easing boosted markets and raised expectations of a rebound in energy demand from the world's largest consumer.

Oil prices climbed toward $51 per barrel on Wednesday, supported by rising stock markets and a bigger-than-expected decline in U.S. gasoline inventories.

Oil prices climbed toward $51 per barrel on Wednesday, supported by rising stock markets and a bigger-than-expected decline in U.S. gasoline inventories.

Oil prices climbed toward $51 per barrel on Wednesday, supported by rising stock markets and after the Energy Information Administration reported a big draw in U.S. gasoline inventories.

Oil prices climbed above $50 per barrel on Wednesday, supported by rising stock markets and expectations the U.S. economic slowdown may be less brutal than initially thought.

Oil prices climbed above $50 per barrel on Wednesday, supported by rising stock markets and expectations that the U.S. economic slowdown may be less brutal than initially thought.

Oil prices fell on Tuesday on concerns the swine flu outbreak could further depress fuel demand, already hard hit by the global financial crisis.

Royal Dutch Shell said on Wednesday its Nigerian joint venture has declared force majeure on the country's Bonny Light crude oil exports in April and May.

Oil rose more than $4 per barrel to above $52 on Thursday as the G20 summit in London raised hopes of a package of measures to restore global growth.

Oil rose more than $3 per barrel to above $51 on Thursday as rising equities markets bolstered sentiment during a G20 summit which investors hoped would deliver measures to restore global growth.

Oil rose more than $3 per barrel to around $51 on Thursday as rising equities markets bolstered sentiment during a G20 summit which investors hoped would deliver measures to restore global growth.

An exodus of expertise from the natural resources sector following the collapse in commodities prices mean banks and industry could face a shortage of seasoned professionals when demand eventually recovers.

World shares rose on Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve's surprise announcement it would start large-scale buying of government debt sparked optimism that the battered U.S. economy could soon begin to recover.

On March 6, oil futures rose to above $45a barrel as dollar weakness and expectations of further output cuts by OPEC offset data showing that U.S. employment soared to the highest rate in more than 25 years.

Oil settled nearly 9 percent higher on Wednesday after data showed an unexpected drop in U.S. crude stocks and an increase in gasoline demand.

Oil rose over 7 percent on Wednesday after data showed an unexpected drop in U.S. crude stocks and an increase in gasoline demand.