Brent crude oil prices rose this evening to their highest level in more than seven weeks, on hopes that Europe can contain its debt crisis and concerns about Iran's nuclear programme.
Oil prices received a brief boost earlier from rumours, later denied, that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was about to resign.
Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister warned that any military strike against Iran would be a grave mistake with unpredictable consequences. The warning came ahead of a report from the UN's nuclear agency due this week that is expected to show that Iran's nuclear program is geared to develop weapons.
Brent crude rose $2.14 to $114.11 a barrel, while US crude rose 77 cents to $95.03.
