New York (Platts)--17Feb2009

NYMEX March crude futures opened $2.20/barrel lower at $35.31/b Tuesday
as a stronger US dollar and weak equity futures place downward pressure on
prices across the petroleum complex.

Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 futures were significantly
lower, indicating a much weaker open as New York stock markets open at 9:30 am
EST (14:30 GMT).

The US Dollar Index on ICE was trading at a two-month high, up 98.9
points at 87.649 as NYMEX floor trading began at 9:00 am.

The front of the crude curve continued to firm following Friday's $3.73/b
jump. The March/April spread was trading at minus $4.36/b on Globex after
settling Friday's session at minus $4.46/b.

There was no NYMEX settlement Monday due to a US public holiday.

Product markets were lower with NYMEX March heating oil the weaker of the
complex. March heating oil opened 7.1 cents lower at $1.229/gal, while March
RBOB opened 3.78 cents lower at $1.1685/gal.
--Tom Liodice, tom_liodice@platts.com