Crude oil for January delivery was up 0.22% or 0.15 to $69.39 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in January rose 0.14% or 0.10 to hit $73.41 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.01% or 0.30 to trade at $2,631.30 a troy ounce.
Japan stocks lower at close of trade; Nikkei 225 down 0.08%
