Crude futures settle higher

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices climbed on Friday.

The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery added 83 cents, or 1.13 percent, to settle at 73.96 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery increased 57 cents, or 0.76 percent, to settle at 76.51 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.