NEW YORK, Dec 19 (Reuters) - U.S. February crude futures
rose on Wednesday, with the front-month January crude contract
expiring, on optimism that the battle over the U.S. budget will
be resolved and reduce the threat of recession and of curbed
demand for petroleum.
U.S. February crude rose $1.58, or 1.79 percent, to
settle at $89.98 a barrel, having traded from $88.26 to $90.33.
(Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)