NYMEX-Crude jumps to end at highest since 2008

* US crude close, intraday peaks, highest since Sept. 2008

* U.S. March nonfarm payrolls stronger than forecast

* Coming up: API oil data, 4:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday

NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices jumped more than 1 percent to its highest close in 2-1/2-years as supportive U.S. jobs data reinforced economic growth expectations and as Libya's conflict and Middle East unrest kept investors wary of threats to supply.

ICE Brent front-month May crude LCOK1 also ended at a 2-1/2-year high settlement and pushed to a May contract peak of $119.14 in post-settlement trade. Brent's 2-1/2-year intraday front-month peak of $119.79 was struck on Feb. 24.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls registered solid growth for a second month in March and the jobless rate hit a two-year low of 8.8 percent, helping fuel optimism about oil demand.

Geopolitical supply risks also had oil traders wary, as Libya's conflict and Middle East unrest persist.

FUNDAMENTALS

* On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude CLK1 rose $1.22, or 1.14 percent, to settle at $107.94 a barrel, highest close since ending at $108.02 on Sept. 25, 2008. The low was $106.30. Prices hit $108.47 in post-settlement trading, highest intraday price since $108.67, on Sept. 25, 2008.

* NYMEX crude ended with a weekly gain of $2.54.

* NYMEX May RBOB gasoline rose 4.36 cents, up 1.4 percent, to settle at $3.15 a gallon, trading from $3.0983 to $3.1650.

* NYMEX May heating oil futures rose 2.20 cents, or 0.71 percent, to settle at $3.1345 a barrel, trading from $3.0925 to $3.1440.

* Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told a huge rally of supporters that he would sacrifice everything for his country, suggesting he has no plans to step down yet.

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* Bahrain has stepped up arrests of cyber activists and Shi'ites, with more than 300 detained and dozens missing since it launched a crackdown on pro-democracy protests, the opposition said. [ID:nLDE72U0VH]

* Money managers raised their net-long crude oil futures and options positions on the NYMEX in the week to March 29, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said. [ID:nN01202655]

MARKETS NEWS

* U.S. stocks started a traditionally healthy month on strong footing after solid jobs figures, but the S&P 500 may need help to break to new multi-year highs. [.N]

* Copper ended lower, building upon the 2.4-percent loss recorded in the first quarter, as a lull in Chinese buying and a rising trend in inventories continued to reflect near-term demand weakness. [MET/L]

UPCOMING DATA/EVENTS

* American Petroleum Institute oil inventory data at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.

    SETTLE     NET    PCT     LOW    HIGH  CURRENT  DAY AGO

              CHNG   CHNG                      VOL      VOL
CLc1   107.94    1.22   1.1%  106.30  108.47  264,394  270,630
CLc2   108.50    1.26   1.2%  106.84  109.00   90,747   92,911
LCOc1  118.70    1.34   1.1%  116.75  119.14  177,493  178,835
RBc1   3.1513  0.0436   1.4%  3.0983  3.1650   33,246   11,097
RBc2   3.1302  0.0384   1.2%  3.0800  3.1400   26,242   50,490
HOc1   3.1345  0.0220   0.7%  3.0925   3.144   31,541    7,522
HOc2   3.1452  0.0219   0.7%  3.1043  3.1501   15,163   52,958
TOTAL MARKET            VOLUME                 OPEN  INTEREST

          CURRENT    Mar 31   30D AVG     Mar 31  NET CHNG
CRUDE        509,669   546,886   756,916  1,549,201   -23,547
RBOB          92,085   116,930   106,594    282,008    -5,080
HO            65,105   114,565   127,358    309,220     2,317

(Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/01/markets-energy-nymex-idUSN0116701920110401)