英语文摘：Crude prices refresh records on weak dollar

Traders stand below a television screen with the headline "Fed Boosts Liquidity", at the New York Mercantile Exchange March 11, 2008. U.S. crude oil futures rose back up sharply by midday on Tuesday in volatile trading, on technical strength amid skepticism about the dollar's long-term prospects after the Federal Reserve's liquidity action

NEW YORK, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Crude oil futures refreshed record highs Thursday on the weakening U.S. dollar.

    Light, sweet crude for April delivery was up 41 cents to 110.33 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after hitting111 dollars a barrel.

    April Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange settled 1.27 higher at 107.54 dollars a barrel.

    Crude has gained 18 percent in a rally driven largely by the weak dollar recent weeks, while many analysts believe crude prices have detached from the fundamental state of oil supply and demand.

    Other energy futures traded mixed. April gasoline futures settled 4.58 cents, or 1.7 percent, lower at 2.6828 dollars a gallon. Heating oil settled 10.04 cents, or 3.3 percent, higher at 3.1248 dollars a gallon.