NEW YORK, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- New York crude oil prices closed above $59 a barrel Friday after Washington warned of expanded militant attacks in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer.
Light, sweet crude for March delivery rose $1.40 or 2.4 percent to $59.39 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The U.S. warning said an unnamed militant group is "reportedly planning to escalate its activities in regions beyond its previous primary target areas" in the southern Niger Delta region where Nigeria's oil is pumped.
The United States receives more than 10 percent of its crude imports from Nigeria.
Natural gas for March delivery gained 21.1 cents or 2.89 percent to $7.502 per 1,000 cubic feet.
March heating oil rose 4.63 cents or 2.85 percent to $1.6734 a gallon.
March reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygen blending moved up 4.81 cents or 3.01 percent to $1.6453 a gallon.
AAA said Friday the average U.S. retail regular unleaded gasoline price was $2.249 a gallon, up 0.6 cents from Thursday's $2.243 a gallon.
