Crude oil prices hold above $86

Renewed concerns over government debt in Europe helped weaken the euro, giving the dollar a boost.

The dollar index rose 0.69 percent to 77.08. December delivery crude oil prices, near a two-year high, lost 47 cents in early trading to $86.38 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Heating oil prices on the exchange shed 0.48 cents from a prior settlement to $2.38 per gallon. Reformulated gasoline blendstock prices shed 1.97 cents to $2.1603 per gallon. Natural gas prices added 11.3 cents to $4.05 per million British thermal units.

At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline rose to $2.854 per gallon from Sunday's $2.848, AAA said.

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