Business & Finance Club - Abu Dhabi: Murban crude oil rose to a premium for the first time since June as refiners purchased cargoes amid gains in processing profits for diesel fuel.

The grade, produced by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., climbed three cents to a premium of two cents a barrel to its official selling price, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Murban for immediate loading climbed one per cent to $73.03.

Murban's high yield of distillate fuels, including diesel fuel and kerosene, is increasing demand for the grade. The price difference between diesel and benchmark crude Dubai, a measure of refiner profit, was at $12.20 a barrel, up from $11.92 a week ago, according to data from PVM Oil Associates.

Oman crude for immediate loading increased 68 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to $72.73 a barrel, according to Bloomberg data. Dubai for loading in October rose 71 cents, or oneper cent, to $72.50.

Oman futures for October delivery fell 11 cents to $72.64 a barrel on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange at 5.21pm Singapore time, with 1,286 contracts traded. The settlement price was set at $72.61 at 12.30pm Dubai time.

The Brent-Dubai exchange for swaps for October widened 2 cents to $1.32 a barrel and the exchange for swaps for November narrowed 3 cents to $1.15 a barrel, according to data from brokers PVM Oil Associates.

Request to terminate public ratings

Multi Commodities Centre Authority confirmed its request to Standard & Poor's to terminate its public rating. "DMCC sees no further requirement for a public rating as it no longer has any public debt following the repayment in May of the final $20 million of a $200 million five-year Islamic Sukuk issued in 2005," it said.