Pipeline would be financed by the private sector and serve demand in Asia
$8.6B merger will unite companies with side-by-side oilsands properties
U.S. benchmark crude jumped 6% to US$62 per barrel midday
Gold, silver drive raw material, industrial product prices up
Pension fund investing US$3 billion for a 13% interest in natural gas firm
Province points to oil prices and U.S. trade woes as previous surplus evaporates