国际英语新闻：Oil prices refresh record highs

NEW YORK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Crude futures set a new record high of near 143 U.S. dollars a barrel Friday as the weakening dollar and tumbling stock market sent more investors into commodity market.

    Light, sweet crude for August delivery touched 142.99 dollars a barrel before retreating and settling up 57 cents at 140.21 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

A cyclist rides past a fuel storage tank at the Mobil oil terminal at Yarraville in Melbourne June 27, 2008. Oil leapt to a new record high near $142 a barrel on Friday, extending gains after surging nearly 4 percent in the previous session, as tumbling global stock markets triggered a wider commodities rally

On Thursday, prices surpassed 140 dollars a barrel for the first time and surged more than 5 dollars to a new settlement record after OPEC predicted oil to reach 170 dollars a barrel this summer and OPEC member Libya threatened to cut output.

    The dollar fell on Friday, which has roughly remained in the record low area against the euro. The market took the Federal Reserve's Wednesday decision of keeping interest rates steady as a sign that interest rate rise is unlikely in the near future. Traders believe the dollar would continue to fall since higher rates tend to strengthen the currency. And consequently, more investors turned to commodities including crude oil as a hedge against inflation.

    Tumbling stock market is also sending more investors to buy oil. Dow Jones slid nearly 360 points on Thursday, hitting the lowest close since September 11, 2006, and continued to fall over 100 points on Friday.

    The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use all its authority to curb speculation in energy futures markets.

    In London, Brent crude for August delivery rose 48 cents to settle at 140.31 dollars a barrel on ICE Futures Exchange.