Crude futures settle higher

NEW YORK, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices climbed on Wednesday.

The West Texas Intermediate for January delivery added 50 cents, or 0.71 percent, to settle at 70.58 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for February delivery gained 20 cents, or 0.27 percent, to settle at 73.39 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.