International oil prices fell below 125 U.S. dollars per barrel

-- New York, July 23 (Xinhua Yang Lei) As the U.S. Energy Department report showed that U.S. gasoline and oil products business inventories increased fuel demand weak domestic market, New York, oil prices fell sharply on the 23rd to continue, for the first time in nearly seven weeks At 125 U.S. dollars per barrel below.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, the September delivery of light sweet crude was inconsistent with the day to 124.30 U.S. dollars a barrel, set on June 5 at its lowest intraday trading prices, ended down 3.98 U.S. dollars, reportedly 124.44 U.S. dollars. London's International Petroleum Exchange, September Brent crude-oil futures prices have dropped 4.26 U.S. dollars to close at 125.29 U.S. dollars a barrel.

According to the U.S. Energy Department report released on the 23rd, ending on the 18th the week, U.S. gasoline inventories increased by 2.85 million barrels, far exceeding the previous market expectations of about 500,000 barrels of the increase in the same time, which include heating oil, diesel, in terms of In the oil business inventories also increased by 2.42 million barrels. The Energy Department report also showed that the U.S. domestic market for fuel on the average demand for 19.9 million barrels, in January 2007 is the lowest level since. Analysts believe that these data show that the U.S. economic slowdown, high oil prices curbed market demand.

Hurricane "Dolly" in the U.S. on the 23rd Texas, and gradually weakened, the Gulf of Mexico to avoid the main oil production platforms and refineries, investors in the region to lift the crude oil production may be affected worry.

In addition, the same day the dollar against the euro exchange rate also promote stronger oil prices continue to decline.

23, New South Wales by August delivery price per gallon gasoline futures fell 11.26 cents to settle at 3.0344 U.S. dollars. August delivery of heating oil futures prices fell 12.8 cents per gallon to settle at 3.5501 U.S. dollars. August delivery of natural gas per 1,000 cubic feet futures prices fell 27.9 cents to 9.788 U.S. dollars.