Oil Rallies to Settle Near $50, Tracks Stocks

Oil rose 1 percent Friday as stock markets recovered from early lows caused by continuing economic gloom.

U.S. light, sweet crude rose 51 cents to $49.93 a barrel, after earlier dipping to $48.25, the lowest level in 3-1/2 years.

London Brent crude settled up $1.11 at $49.19 a barrel.

Thursday, oil fell more than 7 percent on economic data to settle at its lowest since May 2005. It has plummeted nearly $100 a barrel since record highs of over $147 in July, with demand shrinking as the credit crisis hit large consumer nations.

AP

U.S. stocks bounced back Friday after falling into negative territory as shares of financials, including Citigroup , declined and investors worried about the deepening economic slump.Stocks turned higher Friday afternoon after NBC News reported that New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner will be nominated as President-elect Barack Obama's Treasury Secretary.

Further support came as the dollar fell against a basket of other currencies. A weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies and tends to support prices.

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"Crude is up as the stock market is bouncing and refined products are are moving up, particularly heating oil, on cold weather,'' said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading in Chicago. "Prices of other major commodities such as gold and silver are up and the dollar is down, which is also supportive.''

JP Morgan said Friday it expected world oil demand in 2009 to decline by 500,000 barrels per day as the global credit crunch continues to rack the world economy.

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Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet in Cairo next week, but may not take any decision to reduce output to defend prices.

"In Cairo we will not have the complete data about the market,'' OPEC President Chakib Khelil said. "It's very possible that we will not take a decision until we will see the impact. This impact will not likely be seen until December.''

OPEC will meet Dec. 17 in Oran, Algeria.

Industry consultant Petrologistics estimated OPEC oil production will fall by 1.22 million barrels per day in November.

OPEC agreed in October to cut output by 1.5 million barrels per day from Nov. 1, but the move has failed to stem the decline in oil prices.

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