Oil soared above 85 dollars on Thursday, nearing October 2008 peaks in thin pre-holiday trade, driven by manufacturing data which underlined the global economic recovery, traders said.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, jumped as high as 85.10 dollars per barrel, levels last seen in early October 2008. It later stood at 84.88 dollars, up 1.12 dollars from Wednesday's close.
Brent North Sea crude for May also hit a similar high at 84.04 dollars, before pulling back slightly to 83.96 dollars, up 1.26 dollars.
COMEX
June gold rose $US7.70, or 0.7 per cent, to settle at $US1133.80 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Thinly traded April gold gained $US7.80, or 0.7 per cent, to settle at $US1132.90.
May silver rose 22.8 US cents to settle at $US18.118.
