Oil gains 3 percent on Europe hopes, U.S. sales data

A gasoline pump is seen hanging at a petrol station in central Seoul April 6, 2011.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose 3 percent on Friday, posting a second straight weekly gain, on lift from stronger-than-expected U.S. retail sales and optimism about the prospect that European leaders can reach a deal to address the euro-zone debt crisis.

With Brent's front-month November contract expiring on Friday, the premium to U.S. crude strengthened and intraday reached a record $28.10 a barrel.

U.S. retail sales grew at their fastest pace in seven months in September, above expectations, and sales for August and July were revised higher as well.

"Equities were up on the retail numbers and good Google (GOOG.O) results and oil is very responsive to those numbers and we're seeing a reallocation of funds, with some shorts possibly moving back into long positions," said Richard Ilczyszyn senior market strategist at MF Global in Chicago.

But despite the September buying splurge, consumer sentiment slipped in early October more than expected, sending the gauge to the lowest level in more than 30 years.

France and Germany reaffirmed their commitment to a recent deal between their two leaders to combat the euro zone crisis, lending support to oil prices earlier.

The expiring Brent November crude contract rose $3.57 to settle at $114.68 a barrel, the highest close since September 15 and having pushed above both the 100- and 200-day moving averages for front-month.

Brent's 8.3 percent weekly gain was the largest since the week to February 25.

Brent December crude rose $3.03 to settle at $112.23, after reaching $112.65 intraday peak.

U.S. November crude was up $2.57 to settle at $86.80 a barrel, the highest settlement since September 20. The 4.6 percent weekly gain was the biggest since the week to October 7.

U.S. heating oil futures also posted near 3 percent gains as the northern hemisphere heating season approaches.

Broker and industry sources have pointed to Shell's recent Singapore refinery fire, Europe's low stockpiles and U.S. Northeast refineries idled or undergoing maintenance as factors responsible for strong distillate prices.

Speculators raised their net long position in U.S. crude oil and options positions in the week to October 11, data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed.

Goldman Sachs (GS.N) equity analyst, Arjun Murti, who predicted oil prices would spike to $150-$200 a barrel in May 2008 said on Friday the market is showing 'stark similarities' to the start of the 2007-2008 bull run.

U.S. stocks rose as the supportive retail sales eased recession fears and optimism was at least temporarily revived about Europe's progress on a solution to its debt crisis. .N

The euro zone debt crisis will dominate a summit of G20 finance and central bank chiefs in Paris.

A dip in Chinese inflation to 6.1 percent in September also boosted oil prices as it raised the possibility China's central bank may put monetary tightening on hold.

OPEC TENSIONS

Supply disruptions in the North Sea and Nigeria, as well as still irregular exports from Libya, have reduced global output of some of the best-quality light, sweet crude oil.

Gunfights broke out in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Friday between dozens of supporters of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi and forces of the new government.

This week's intensified row between OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Iran added to oil's political risk premium.

President Barack Obama warned Iran on Thursday it would face the toughest possible sanctions for an alleged plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington.

"We knew they (Saudi Arabia and Iran) were not good friends and now there's a new struggle between two of the biggest members in OPEC," said Eugen Weinberg, head of commodities research at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

OPEC will meet to discuss policy on December 14 in Vienna.

(Additional reporting by Gene Ramos in New York, Emma Farge in London and Florence Tan in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Andrea Evans)