Affected by factors such as the passage of the revised economic stimulus plan by the U.S. House of Representatives, international oil prices rebounded on the 13th after falling for several consecutive days, with oil prices in the New York market rising by more than 10%.

Progress Energy Florida said it signed contracts with Westinghouse Electric Co. and Power Group, a unit of Shaw Group Inc. (SGR), to develop two nuclear power units for a proposed nuclear power plant in Levy County, Florida.

The main crude oil futures contract in the New York market closed moderately higher, briefly exceeding $46 during the session. There are rumors in the market that Saudi Arabia may significantly reduce production in January next year.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on the 4th that it will no longer borrow crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to any refinery.

As the sharp increase in U.S. crude oil commercial inventories last week intensified investors' concerns about the economic downturn suppressing demand for crude oil, international oil prices fell back below $90 per barrel again on the 8th, and oil prices in the New York market hit the lowest trading price this year.

As international oil prices continue to fall, the meeting held by the International Petroleum Exporting Organization (OPEC) in Vienna yesterday was once considered by the market to be a "production reduction" summit. However, all member countries participating in the meeting yesterday expressed their intention to maintain output unchanged.

British stocks closed higher on Friday, as a sharp fall in crude oil prices eased concerns about inflation, encouraging gains in bank stocks and retailers. The gains outperformed losses in mining stocks triggered by weaker metal prices, pushing the broader market higher.

The "BP World Energy Statistics 2008" released today reveals: In the past year, most renewable energy has experienced rapid growth, with global wind and solar installed capacity increasing by 28.5% and 37% respectively, and ethanol production increasing by 27.8%.