Iran's export ban pushes oil prices

Crude oil prices topped $101 per barrel Wednesday morning after Iran said it would stop exporting oil to six European countries. Iran struck back at the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France after the European Union agreed to join in international sanctions against Iran for the country's alleged nuclear weapons program. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet, West Texas Intermediate crude added 67 cents to reach $101.41 per barrel. Home heating oil gained 3.78 cents to $3.2026 per gallon. Reformulated gasoline gained 1.44 cents to $2.9969 per gallon. Henry Hub natural gas prices lost 6.6 cents to $2.466 per million British thermal units. At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline added a half a cent, climbing to $3.518 per gallon Wednesday from Tuesday's $3.513, AAA said.