Oil prices rose above $52 a barrel Monday, boosted by stronger stock markets and a weaker dollar amid plans by the U.S. government to buy bad assets from banks to contain the financial crisis, according to The Associated Press.

Benchmark crude for May delivery was up 61 cents to $52.68 a barrel by midday in Europe in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract edged up 3 cents on Friday to settle at $52.07, the first time crude ended the week above $50 since last year.