New York  (Platts)--24Aug2007

October crude futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange opened 3 cents
lower at $69.80/barrel Friday despite additional gains in the RBOB market. 

     Increasingly tight gasoline balances in the US have put a floor in RBOB
prices.

     "The gasoline market has received a late summer price boost from a
sharp and unexpected stock draw during the latest reporting period," energy
consultant Jim Ritterbusch said in a report. "This gasoline stock decline and
some associated slippage in refinery activity has pumped new life in the crack
spreads with the October 3-2-1 differentials popping almost $1.50/barrel with
help from the mid-week EIA statistics."

     September RBOB opened 1.68 cents higher at $1.94/gal and September
heating oil opened 20 points lower at $1.9590/gal. 

		--Linda Rafield, linda_rafield@platts.com