Oil rebounds in Asian trade

Singapore, Feb 8 (AFP) Oil rebounded in Asian trade today on geopolitical concerns after crude producer Iran rejected a US offer on nuclear talks, and on healthy trade data from China. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March increased 23 cents to USD 96.06 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for March delivery gained 28 cents to USD 117.52. Prices were down in overnight US trades. "Brent is trading a little stronger on developments in Iran," said Jason Hughes, head of premium client management at IG Markets Singapore. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday rejected a US offer to negotiate one-on-one on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, ruling out such contacts so long as Washington keeps up its threats against the Islamic republic. Western powers believe Iran is trying to build an atomic weapon, but Tehran says its nuclear research is for peaceful purposes. Other analysts said investors were also taking heart from robust trade figures from China, the world's second biggest economy and largest energy consumer. Official data released today showed China's trade surplus rose 7.7 per cent year-on-year to USD 29.2 billion in January as the country maintained its economic recovery on improving demand. Exports jumped a solid 25.0 percent to USD 187.4 billion last month, while imports soared 28.8 percent to USD 158.2 billion, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement. Zhang Zhiwei, a Hong Kong-based economist with Nomura International, said the data showed that the Chinese economy "is on track for a cyclical recovery in the first half (of this year)". (AFP) ASK 02081216 NNNN