VIENNA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- OPEC's daily average oil prices have hit 100 U.S. dollars for the first time, the Vienna-based cartel said Wednesday.
The Organization of Oil Exporting Countries' basket of 13 crudes rose to 100.57 U.S. dollars a barrel Tuesday from 99.48 dollars the previous day.
OPEC President Chakib Khelil has said oil prices will remain at high levels for the rest of this year due to speculation and geopolitical tensions, news reports said.
However, prices could ease in 2009 with a recovery of the weakening dollar following the U.S. presidential election and fundamentals reasserting themselves as major market forces, he said.
