mineral exploration project – commodity prices – mining stock- trade and market

Oil fluctuated near $80 a barrel as the dollar strengthened against the euro, making crude less attractive as an alternative investment, and U.S. equities fell.

Oil dropped for the first time in five days as the dollar gained as much as 0.3 percent against the euro and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.3 percent. Oil earlier touched a five- week high as strikes at Total SA refineries and depots in France boosted prices of refined products such as gasoline.

Consumers for the first time this year are paying more on average for a gallon of gasoline than they did 12 months ago, according to data released Tuesday.

The rising price of crude oil, which closed Tuesday at $79.55 a barrel, is putting pressure on gasoline prices.