OPEC crude basket soars

The basket of 12 crude oils of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) stood at $105.58 a barrel Friday, compared to $105.27 last Thursday, according to the OPEC Secretariat.

The new OPEC reference basket comprises Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (the United Arab Emirates) and Merey (Venezuela). A barrel is equal to 159 litres.