CRUDE OIL

Gold prices fell 1 percent on Monday, in line with the euro, stocks and other commodities, as worries over the euro zone debt crisis and the impact of high crude oil prices on the fledgling economic recovery fuelled risk aversion.

The start of the liability trial for the BP 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 workers and fouled the Gulf of Mexico for months, has been delayed for a week allowing more time for embattled BP and fellow defendants to broker a settlement with U.S. prosecutors.

The prices of gasoline and other energy commodities are on the rise -- with further increases just over the horizon -- and it appears that everyone is taking notice.

BP's 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 and fouled the Gulf of Mexico for months is finally headed for court. On Monday, a federal judge in New Orleans is scheduled to gavel the case to order.

What can stop the progression toward $5 gas?

Gas prices have risen to above $4 per gallon in many parts of the country, but compared to other countries, it's actually a rather low figure.

The good news for U.S. drivers is that unless a world-wide catastrophic event, like war breaking out between Iran and Israel, takes place soon, the $5 figure will not be hit in the near future, according to AAA.

The price of gasoline in the U.S. is expected to hit $4.00 by summer, and could potentially spike even further. Much of this has to do to with events in other parts of the world.

Gas prices on average have gained 12 cents a gallon in just the last month, the AAA reports. At an average $3.51 a gallon, that's 38 cents above 2011. What's happening?

Chesapeake Energy Corp is seeking as much as $12 billion from assets sales and joint ventures to cope with a cash crunch amid rising debt and tumbling gas prices.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States rose nearly 12 cents in the past three weeks to about $3.51, due in part to higher prices for North Sea crude oil, according to the nationwide Lundberg Survey.

Gold edged up along with crude oil and the euro on expectations the Greek prime minister's presence in Brussels Thursday signals a likelihood his nation will receive desperately needed bailout money.

When Harper first took office in 2006, relations between Canada and China were cold,.

Brent crude rose above $112 on Friday as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the Iran would retaliate over an oil embargo at the right time.

Gold prices climbed Friday, their 21st daily increase in the last 24 trading sessions, toward a two-month high as support from a weaker dollar offset falling crude oil prices.

Lawmakers are considering a bid to force President Barack Obama's administration to blacklist Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an effort to thwart Tehran's nuclear capabilities, a congressional aide said on Wednesday.

Officials with Brazilian oil giant Petrobras, and Brazil's environmental protection agency (IBAMA), announced Wednesday that 26 cubic meters of oily water was collected from an offshore oil production column that ruptured the day before.

Gold rallied for a second day on Wednesday as the euro rebounded following upbeat German economic data, building on gains in January that marked the metal's strongest starting month in 32 years.

ExxonMobil Corp., the world's largest integrated oil and natural gas company, Tuesday reported fourth-quarter earnings up six percent, less than analysts expected, as higher crude oil profits offset weaker refining margins.

Gold prices, headed for their strongest January in three years, rose Tuesday as fears of a Greek sovereign debt default receded, the dollar weakened and crude oil and copper prices increased.

Shares of Apple, the most valuable technology company, set another record Monday as shares closed at $453.01, up $5.73, still another record.