By MarketWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Crude-oil futures rose on Friday as protestors took to the streets of Egypt after President Hosni Mubarak said in a Thursday address that he would not immediately step down.
Oil advanced by 0.5%, or 41 cents, to $87.14.
The gains held after the Commerce Department said the U.S. trade deficit widened by a less-than-expected amount, to $40.6 billion, in December. U.S. trade gap widens in December.
On Thursday, crude for March delivery (CLH11 86.90, +0.17, +0.20%) rose 2 cents to close at $86.73 a barrel.
