Oil prices tumbled below $100 today for the first time in nearly six months as investors digested the latest financial crisis.

Crude oil futures briefly sank below the psychologically important US$100 a barrel mark for the first time in five months today, showing that investors believe a worsening global economy will continue to drive down demand for some time in the US and elsewhere.

Oil prices are retreating from earlier gains in Asia, after Opec vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets.

GUEST’S shop with its central cast iron stove was a focal point in the village of Shinrone, Co Offaly, for over a 100 years.