Yukos Send Oil Prices Higher

Russia's largest oil company Yukos announced that it may be forced to stop production.

Russian bailiffs had a cease-work order to cover Yukos? largest production unit, Yuganskneftegaz. The unit is being readied for sale to help Yukos satisfy a $3.4 billion tax bill.

News of the bailiffs' order sent Yukos shares down nearly 14% in Moscow trading.

But Yukos trouble caused not only its own shares down, it also sent the prices price for U.S. light crude above $43 a barrel.