A motorist prepares to put fuel into her car at a petrol station in MelbourneOil climbed to a 26-month high on Monday as a blizzard in the US Northeast offset uncertainty over Chinese fuel demand following a Christmas Day interest rate hike.US crude for February rose 33 cents to $91.84 a barrel by 0733 GMT, after hitting an intraday high of $91.88 -- the highest since October 2008. ICE Brent crude jumped 71 cents to $94.48.Oil prices have surged nearly 35 per cent since this year's low in May as an unusually cold winter in the United States and Europe boosted demand and slashed inventories.The first widespread blizzard of the season slammed the northeastern United States, the world's top heating oil market, canceling hundreds of flights and causing havoc as travelers scurried to return to work after the Christmas holiday.(Pictures by Reuters)

December 27: Snapshots for the day


Air India aircrafts stand on the tarmac during heavy rains at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi

State-run Air-India has sought an additional Rs 2,000 crore from the government for FY12, Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Monday.

The minister also said fund infusion of Rs 1,200 crore is expected in the next few days.

Air India aircrafts stand on the tarmac during heavy rains at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi

State-run Air-India has sought an additional Rs 2,000 crore from the government for FY12, Aviation Minister Praful

A worker carries a sack of sugar at a food warehouse in Mumbai

Sugar futures took off at their relaunch on National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) on Monday, with interest from end-users and institutions pushing volumes near levels seen in 2009 when they last traded.

The most-active sugar M-grade for January delivery on the NCDEX was trading at Rs 3,037 per 100 kg, after hitting a contract high of Rs 3,079.

A worker carries a sack of sugar at a food warehouse in Mumbai

Sugar futures took off at their relaunch on National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) on Monday, with interest from end-users and institutions pushing volume

A worker rides his bicycle past shipping containers at the Longtan port in Nanjing, Jiangsu province

China will strive to achieve a trade balance over time by boosting imports, Zhong Shan, a vice Commerce Minister said in remarks published on Monday.

Zhong said the trade balance would not be achieved by suppressing exports.

As the world&#39;s manufacturing powerhouse, China runs a hefty trade account surplus with the United States.

That is a lightning rod in relations between the two countries as some US politicians argue China enjoys that trade advantage by holding down its currency.

A worker rides his bicycle past shipping containers at the Longtan port in Nanjing, Jiangsu province

China will strive to achieve a trade balance over time by boosting imports, Zhong Shan, a vice Commerce Minister said in remarks