Russia and Ukraine are expected to resume talks today on their long-running natural gas dispute. The two countries have already partially resolved the dispute, with Ukraine agreeing to pay off about a $1 billion of its debt. The price of Russia’s export blend crude oil (REBCO) for April delivery rose 1.76% to a record $100.5 per barrel, boosted by the faltering US economy. Gazprom Neft, an oil arm of Gazprom, said it would raise capital expenditure by 36% in 2008 to $3.74 billion.