Brent oil tops $61 as outlook brightens

Brent oil prices soared above $61 this week for the first time this year, aided by upbeat news on Ukraine and Greece and by rebounding economic growth in eurozone powerhouse Germany. Elsewhere in commodity markets, India overtook China as the world's top consumer of gold, according to newly published industry data. OIL: Crude oil prices rallied above $61 on easing tensions surrounding Greece and Ukraine, and as the global economic outlook brightened. "Prices managed to climb ... as inv