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Crude oil ended higher amid supply worries in the wake of a strike in French refineries and on geopolitical tensions over Iran's nuclear posture. Oil refinery output in 16 European countries fell 6.5 percent to 11.317 million barrels per day in January from a year earlier. U. S. demand for crude oil and petroleum products fell sharply in January from year-ago the American Petroleum Institute said.

Now support for the crude is seen at 3639 and below could see a test of 3573. Resistance is now likely to be seen at 3744, a move above could see prices testing 3783.

Trading Ideas:

Crude trading range is 3573-3783.

The highest decision-making body of Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), has severely condemned the beheading of two Sikh youths is Peshawar, Pakistan, and has asked the Pakistan government to provide full security to minorities in the country.

India must raise the issue with Pakistan in the United Nations to prevent such ghastly acts, said Gurbachan Singh, Chief of the Akal Takht.

Silver is also showing it's second strong up week at its current level of 25513. Silver suffered a dramatic drop in January from 18.85$ to 14.68$, so the bounce is proving equally impressive as support had been seen from the base metal counter and crude oil bouncing back on economic bright outlook.

Gold jumped to its highest in a month today market as the U. S. dollar took a breather from a recent rally and fund buying picked up after the euro gained on talk about a speedy bailout for debt-ridden Greece. Investors have poured money into gold as a hedge against currencies' volatility due to fears about debt defaults in the euro zone, while the metal's steady rebound since falling below $1,100 also ignited technical buying.

With an address by President Pratibha Patil to a joint sitting of both the Houses, the budget session of Parliament will commence from today.

As expected, the address will outline government''s plans and policies on key issues.

A discussion on the burning problem of rising prices have been demanded by the BJP, the Left and other parties on the first working day of the three-month long session.

The people of this landlocked valley in Lahaul and Spiti district remain cut off from the rest of the world for more than five months every year, owing to heavy snowfall. Keylong, the district headquarters, is 200 km from the popular hill station of Manali.

Getting here in winter is not easy as the once-a-week helicopter service is the only mode of transportation for locals which is reserved for government employees most of the time. But the locals are unperturbed.