Oil prices climbed on Tuesday, along with stock markets and the euro, as investors grew more confident about the global economic recovery.
New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, jumped 1.82 dollars to close at 76.94 dollars a barrel.
The contract had added more than a dollar Monday and was trading at its highest level since early May.
London's Brent North Sea crude for July delivery rose one dollar to settle at 76.20 dollars.
"There's been a build-up in gains over recent sessions," said Antoine Halff of Newedge Group.
"The market is more optimistic about the short term, the short-term market dynamic is upward. The question is to know if these gains can last, since the fundamentals havent' changed," he said.
The euro, a barometer of market confidence in the 16-nation eurozone economy, was trading higher Tuesday, at more than 1.23 dollars.
Oil had also risen in earlier deals on Tuesday owing to the weaker US currency.
"Crude oil prices extended recent gains and tested the 76 dollars per barrel area, supported by a weakening US dollar," said Sucden Financial Research analyst Myrto Sokou earlier on Tuesday.
A weaker dollar tends to boost demand for dollar-priced commodities as they become cheaper for buyers holding stronger currencies.
