year peak near $99 per barrel here Wednesday, boosted by plunging American crude reserves, and as the key Trans-Alaskan pipeline remained shut following a leak. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in February jumped 86 cents to reach $98.47 a barrel, which was the highest level since Oct. 1, 2008. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February, rallied 84 cents to $91.95 per barrel. Prices pushed higher after the US government's Department of Energy revealed that American crude stockpiles sank by 2.2 million barrels last week. – Agence France
