Rounding out the major energy trade, Nymex January natural gas NGF15, +0.13% fell 2.3 cents, or 0.8%, to $3.007 per million British thermal units after briefly dipping below $3 earlier in the session. It is the lowest settlement since Sept. 25, 2012.
Natural gas hasn’t traded below $3 since 2012, according to FactSet. Warmer winter weather has been taking a toll on natural gas prices, which have tumbled more than 26% in December.
Across other energy contracts, Nymex January gasoline RBF5, +0.12% eased 0.3% to settle at $1.5087 a gallon, while January heating oil HOF5, -0.24% slipped 0.4% to $1.92 a gallon.
Crude-oil futures fell Friday, erasing earlier gains, and pushing down prices for the week for the fifth straight time.
New York Mercantile Exchange-traded February crude CLG5, -1.25% settled $1.11, or 2%, lower at $54.73 a barrel, its second-lowest settlement of the year, after one hit last week. It fell 4.2% over the week, its fifth consecutive weekly drop, and has plunged more than 28% in that time, the biggest such drop in six years.
Platinum for January delivery PLF5, +2.16% jumped $27.30, or 2.29%, to $1,218.40 an ounce. Palladium for March delivery PAH5, +1.18% rose $10.15, or 1.26%, at $817.95 an ounce.
High-grade copper for March delivery HGH5, -1.38% was off 4 cents at $2.81 a pound.