(dpa) - OPEC crude prices keep hitting ever new all-time highs, peaking at 97.26 dollars at the beginning of the week, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said on Tuesday.
One barrel (159 litres) of OPEC-produced crudes stood at 97.26 dollars on Monday, up 76 cents from Friday.
The cartel's 13 energy ministers are expected to leave output quotas unchanged at their meeting on Wednesday in Vienna. OPEC produces about 40 per cent of the world's crude.
Global oil prices have been pushed up by increased friction between OPEC-member Venezuela and neighbour Colombia as well as the expected impact of a new UN Security Council resolution against Iran adopted on Monday.