New York (Platts)--30Dec2008

NYMEX February crude futures opened 81 cents lower at $39.21/barrel
Tuesday at 9:00 am EST (1400 GMT) on a steady US dollar and as the front-month
crude curve continues to weaken.

The US Dollar Index on ICE was up 7.1 points to 80.756 as NYMEX floor
trading opened, but off from its intra-session high of 81.352.

The front of the crude curve was offered through the May contract,
suggesting the market was pricing in another stock build at the NYMEX delivery
point in Cushing, Oklahoma in this week's US oil data.

The February/March spread traded minus $3.26/b after settling Monday at
minus $3.01/b. March/April was offered at minus $1.89/b after settling the
previous session at minus $1.78/b and the April/May was trading minus $1.44/b
after Monday's settlement of minus $1.38/b.

Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 futures were higher, indicating
a slightly stronger open when New York stock markets open at 9:30 am EST.

NYMEX January heating oil opened 7 points higher at $1.286/gallon, and
January RBOB opened 1.53 cents lower at 85.92 cents/gal.

--Tom Liodice, tom_liodice@platts.com