Oil surges to $51.39

Oil prices firmed up in the international market yesterday, with the Nymex U.S. light crude oil for April series rising 22 cents to close at $51.39 per barrel. The London Brent crude gained 90 cents to settle at $49.40 a barrel.

In the metal segment, the COMEX gold slipped 40 cents to wind up at $435.70 an ounce.