January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

LONDON, Jan 9: World oil prices rose Monday on concerns that political and violent unrest in Iran, Iraq and Israel may disrupt exports of Middle East energy supplies.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, gained 20 cents to $64.41 per barrel in electronic dealing.

In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude for February delivery advanced nine cents to $62.81 per barrel.

Prices had last week surged by more than 10.0 per cent, owing also to the Russia-Ukraine gas price dispute that disrupted Russian gas exports to western Europe.

Oil prices continue to trade robustly as geopolitics... have returned to the forefront of market concerns at the beginning of 2006, Barclays Capital analyst Kevin Norrish said Monday.—AFP