Crude oil for October delivery was up 1.43% or 0.96 to $68.27 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November rose 1.35% or 0.95 to hit $71.56 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.13% or 3.35 to trade at $2,545.75 a troy ounce.