Oil Rises on Fears of Ida

Meanwhile, t`he weather threat has perhaps generated some buying interest in the market, but "the risk (to oil production) from the hurricane is very small," said CWA Global Market analyst Toby Hassall.

He added the oil market will likely continue tracking currency movements and the general sentiment in the U.S. equity market as the U.S. economic data calendar is "fairly quiet in the first half of this week."

Mizuho Securities analyst Ryuichi Sato said Nymex crude will likely remain rangebound at $76.28-$80.00 a barrel this week as little market-moving data are expected this week.

Given the recent cold weather, US distillate demand may show a "modest increase or even a temporary stabilization," Beutel said.

It was also reported, Ida wasn't expected to pack the wallop seen in 2008 when hurricanes Gustav and Ike pelted the Gulf Coast back-to-back. There have been nine named storms this season, which ends Dec. 1. Ida is only the third hurricane to form, and neither of the others threatened land.

Ida wasn't expected to directly threaten New Orleans, where unflappable fans at the Saints football game seemed unaware a storm was approaching.

"We're used to tropical storms," said David Clements of Chalmette, La. "That's why we have a dome."

Earlier Sunday, Ida's wind and rain whipped palm trees in the Mexican resort city of Cancun. Fishermen tied their boats down, though tourists seemed to regard it as a minor setback.