Oil prices struck a 10-month high above US$73 a barrel on Tuesday on strong summer-driving demand in top consumer, the United States.

London Brent crude, seen as the best price gauge of the global oil market, settled 30 cents to $72.93 a barrel after rising to $73.10 earlier, the highest since August 25. U.S. crude settled up 32 cents to $71.41.

Experts have been concerned about U.S. gasolene supplies as domestic refiners strain to meet rising summer demand. U.S. refiners have faced a long, deep maintenance season that helped draw down refined product inventories ahead of the summer.

Unexpected refinery outages have also plagued the U.S. market, with Coffeyville Resources shutting a 108,000 barrels per day refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas, following flooding.

"All of the ducks are lining up in terms of upward price pressure," said Frances Hudson, investment director at Standard Life Invest-ments. "We're reaching the peak of the driving season and I do wonder how much we are also seeing a rise in the geopolitical element of the oil price," referring to attemptedbombings in London and an attack on Glasgow airport.

Police suspect an al-Qaeda plot and the attacks have helped put some markets on edge.

Although crude stocks in the United States are at a nine-year high, some analysts are forecasting they will drop rapidly as refiners there return from maintenance.