Crude Oil Futures Began to Rise

Crude oil futures in New York ended higher Thursday on the U.S. crude inventories decline by 8.1 million barrels.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery was up 19 cents to settle at $60.53 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after losing value for four days.

The 8.1-million-barrel inventory drop the U.S. Energy Department reported for the week ended Dec. 22 was far more than most commodity analysts expected.