Oil futures hit highest level in more than a month

Oil futures climbed again in Thursday’s trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, rising more than 1.2% for the day, reaching their highest level in more than a month. Analysts say it’s a sign of continued optimism as crude supplies continue falling, especially at the Clinton hub in Oklahoma.

West Texas Intermediate crude prices were up 43 cents and settled at $33.92 a barrel while Brent Crude, the international benchmark rose 17 cents and finished the day at $35.92 a barrel.

Natural gas prices fell 6 cents to $1.71 per MMBtu for a 1% drop.

SandRidge Energy shares remained unchanged at $1.51 each while Devon Energy trading dropped 13 cents and settled at $12.29 a share.

Chesapeake Energy finished the day up 96 cents at $14.16 a share for a 1% increase.

ConocoPhillips was down 43 cents at $43.72 while Marathon Oil was off one cent at $5.94 a share.

EOG Resources dropped 33 cents to finish at $52.32 while ONEOK fell 49 cents and settled at $36.02.

Phillips 66 fell $1.16 to end the day’s trading at $77.09 while American Electric Power, parent company to Public Service Company of Oklahoma dropped 38 cents and ended at $77.37 a share.