The gains made by crude oil prices on Friday were small enough to declare that they held steady in trading. Oklahoma energy stocks took advantage to record gains.
Analysts explained Chinese demand and interest rate-cut expectations played a role, according to Reuters, as day information that showed U.S. inflation was cooling.
West Texas Intermediate crude managed an 8 cent gain or 0.12% to close at $69.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, went up 6 cents or 0.08% and finished at $72.94 a barrel.
For the week, WTI and Brent were down about 2.5% for the week.
Both benchmarks ended the week down about 2.5%.
Natural gas prices settled up 16 cents for a 4.58% gain to $3.75.
Most Oklahoma energy stocks finished the week on Friday with gains. Empire Petroleum Corporation led them all with a 20% jump.
