US crude oil prices hit the psychological barrier of $100 a barrel for the first time today.
Surging economies in China and India reliant on oil and gasoline sent prices soaring last year, while tensions in oil producing nations such as Nigeria and Iran have increasingly made investors nervous.
Fresh outbreaks of violence in Nigeria helped give crude the final push over $100 (£50.50).
Bands of armed men invaded Port Harcourt, the centre of Nigeria's oil industry yesterday, attacking two police stations and raiding a hotel lobby.
The fact that several Mexican oil export ports were closed due to rough weather added to the gains, as did a report that the producers' cartel Opec may not be able to meet its share of global oil demand by 2024.
Light, sweet crude for January delivery shot up by $4.02 to $100 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, before slipping back to $99.15.
Crude prices, which have nudged the $100 milestone for months, rose in recent days following concerns about supplies exacerbated by Turkish attacks on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq and falling domestic inventories.
Post-holiday trading volumes were only about 50% of a normal Wednesday.
"I would imagine the speculators are the biggest drivers today," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp, in Chicago.
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