Oil rises above $85 on weak dollar, China data
PERTH, April 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose above $85 a barrel, buoyed by a drop in the U.S. dollar and bullish data that showed Chinese crude imports jumping to their second-highest monthly level in March.
"The weaker U.S. dollar and positive Chinese trade data are the two main supporting factors," said David Moore, an analyst at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
China '10 coal imports seen staying near '09 highs
BEIJING, April 12 (Reuters) - China's coal imports this year will remain at similar levels to last year, when they rose to a record high on strong Chinese demand and weak international prices, Fang Junshi, director-general of the Department of Coal Industry at China's National Energy Administration, said on Monday.
He also told reporters on the sidelines of a conference that coal sector consolidation in Henan province and other coal-producing areas would not affect China's coal output.
Algeria's Sonatrach says makes new oil, gas finds
ALGIERS, April 11(Reuters) - Algerian state energy group Sonatrach announced on Sunday a total of two new oil and gas finds, bringing to five the number of hydrocarbon discoveries this year.
The new finds were made after drilling wells at blocs 239a nad 244a in Tinrhert area in Illizi basin, the company said in a statement on its inetrnet site ww.sonatrach-dz.com.
Occidental to boost Oman crude production in 2012
MUSCAT, April 11 (Reuters) - Occidental Petroleum Corp will boost its crude production in Oman by 50 percent to 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2012, senior company executive Bill Lbrecht said on Sunday.
The fourth-largest U.S. oil and gas company currently produces from the Mukhaizna field in Oman.
