New York, NY, July 13, 2006--The futures contract climbed past $76 a barrel Thursday for the first time ever on the New York Mercantile Exchange, with August crude touching $76.30 and last trading at $76.21, up $1.26.
"Geopolitical tensions combined with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East tensions topped off by strong seasonal demand is dictating new highs for crude oil," said John Person, president of National Futures Advisory Service.
