Crude futures settle higher

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices edged up on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for November delivery increased 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 70.67 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for December delivery went up 23 cents, or 0.31 percent, to settle at 74.45 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.