Crude-oil futures rose Wednesday, picking up more steam after a U.S. government-supply report showed an unexpected decline in crude inventories. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for January delivery CLF5, +0.98% rose 50 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $67.38 a barrel. January Brent crude LCOF5, +0.82% on London’s ICE Futures exchange changed directions as the session progressed, ending the day down 62 cents, or 0.9%, at $69.92 a barrel.
January platinum PLF5, -0.19% rose $10.00, or 0.8%, to $1,227.50 an ounce, while March palladium PAH5, +0.13% fell $6.20, or 0.8%, to $797.55 an ounce. High-grade copper for March delivery HGH5, +0.71% lost 2 cents, or 0.7%, to $2.87 a pound.
Gold gained on Wednesday to close above $1,200 as tepid U.S. data and higher oil prices revived buying interest. Gold for February delivery GCG5, -0.17% rose $9.30, or 0.8%, to settle at $1,208.70 an ounce. March silver SIH5, +0.17% was off 4 cents at $16.41 an ounce.
Crude-oil futures rose Wednesday, picking up more steam after a U.S. government-supply report showed an unexpected decline in crude inventories.
