Summary Oil prices circled $94 for a second week as Fed stimulus was balanced by abundant U.S. supplies.
NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil circled $94 for a second week as the promise of the continuation of the Federal Reserve's economic stimulus was balanced by abundant U.S. supplies.
Oil rose 8 cents to close at $93.84 a barrel in New York Friday, one day after incoming Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen indicated that economic stimulus will remain in place pending further improvement in the U.S. economy. The Fed's low interest-rate policy has supported investment in riskier assets such as oil and stocks.
Yellen's remarks helped offset further signs of oversupply. Data from the Energy Department showed the U.S. produced more crude oil than it imported
in October for the first time since 1995. It also showed crude oil supplies rising for an 8th straight week, by 2.6 million barrels.
Oil has traded between $93 and $96 a barrel over the past two weeks, and is down 77 cents since Nov. 1.
Brent crude, the benchmark for an international variety of crude, gained 22 cents to $108.50 a barrel on the ICE Exchange in London.
