Commodity Daily News

Oil Rises on Improved Global Economic Outlook

Crude Oil closed above $77 a barrel Monday after upbeat data from China stoked optimism about the global economy, while the closure of a pipeline in the Midwest disrupted supplies to refineries in the region. Oil traders were cheered by increasing industrial production in China, which over the weekend reported manufacturing gains of nearly 14% in August from a year ago, with the data signaling the world's second-biggest economy is growing.

Crude prices earlier reached an intraday high of $78.07 a barrel, the first time a front-month contract breached the $78 mark since Aug. 11. On Friday, Oil gained $2.20 to end at $76.45 a barrel, closing the week higher by 2.5%. A softer U.S. dollar also supported the dollar-denominated commodity by making it less costly for holders of other currencies.