Oil price hikes up on Venezuela concerns

Oil rose above $US126 a barrel for the first time on Friday, bringing its advance this week to nearly $US10, as investors questioned whether a possible confrontation between the US and Venezuela could cut exports from the OPEC member.

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal published a report that suggested closer ties between Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and rebels attempting to overthrow Colombia's government.

Chavez has been linked to Colombian rebels previously, but the paper reported it had reviewed computer files indicating concrete offers by Venezuela's leader to arm guerrillas.

The claim could fuel calls among some US lawmakers to declare Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism and impose sanctions on one of America's biggest oil suppliers.

"If we put on sanctions, I'm sure Chavez would threaten to cut off our oil supply," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corporation. "Obviously that would have a major impact on oil prices."

Light, sweet crude for June delivery vaulted to a new record of $US126.25 on the New York Mercantile Exchange before retreating slightly to settle up $US2.27 at a record $US125.96. Oil futures set new records for the fifth straight day, and ended the week up $US9.64, or 8.3 per cent.

In London, June Brent crude futures rose $US2.56 to settle at $US125.40 a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange.

Oil prices also were boosted on Friday by the US dollar, which declined against the euro. The European Central Bank said it was unlikely to consider interest rate cuts to cool the strong euro against the slumping dollar.

Investors often buy commodities such as oil as a hedge against inflation when the greenback falls. A weaker dollar also makes oil less expensive to overseas investors.

Many analysts believe the dollar's protracted decline has much to do with the doubling in oil prices since this time last year. Another school of thought thinks tight global supplies of oil, driven by growing demand in countries such as China, Brazil and India, is the primary factor driving oil higher.

In other Nymex trading on Friday, June petrol futures rose 6.34 cents to settle at a record $US3.2012 a gallon after rising to its own record of $US3.2038, and June natural gas futures rose 27.4 cents to settle at $US11.537 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Heating oil for June delivery rose 12.62 cents to settle at $US3.636 on the Nymex after earlier setting a trading record of $US3.6524.