Higher oil prices because of the Middle East crisis will hit Asia harder than anywhere else this year, a regional oil expert warned Tuesday. John Driscoll, Singapore-based general manager of the independent oil and gas price reporter Petroleum Argus, told CNN oil prices would likely go as high as $30 a barrel this year. "I predict before the year is out we'll see $30 a barrel," he said. The price of oil has jumped more than 35 percent since mid-January, and touched $27 Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange before settling at $26.88. It was the first time in six months the crude oil price has breached the $27 mark, and reflects mounting anxiety that the escalating violence in the Middle East could lead to a disruption of supply.

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