NYMEX's front-month crude future on the CME's Globex system were 5 cents
higher at $98.23/barrel Monday, coming off from as high as $99.11/barrel in
earlier trading as the dollar rebounded.

The US dollar had approached its all-time low of 74.484, hit November 23,
but rebounded back above 75.00.

"Dollar negativity remains intact after the dramatic recovery seen just
before the weekend," strategists at Brown Brothers Harriman, said in a report.
"However, the closing levels last Friday were mostly insufficient to
negate the bearish dollar sentiment."

Weather concerns moved to the forefront of the petroleum markets as
colder temperatures forecast for the US later this week boosted heating oil
futures.

December heating oil was 1.04 cents higher at $2.7146/gal, just shy of
the all-time high of $2.7181/gal seen November 23. December gasoil on ICE was
higher, having hit a record $861.50/mt in overnight trading.

"Colder weather forecast for the US by the end of the week is being cited
as a contributory factor to the strong start to the week as is further
weakness in the dollar," Kevin Norrish, energy analyst at Barclays Capital,
said in a report. "Although neither of these factors are significant in
determining short-term fundamentals, in our view, they may be enough to boost
sentiment as US market participants return from holiday today."

--Linda Rafield, linda_rafield@platts.com