By Steve Gelsi
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures remained in positive territory on Friday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the U.S. central bank's $600 billion quantitative easing program. As Middle East unrest continued, the April crude futures contract for West Texas Intermediate rose 65 cents to $89.49 a barrel. The U.S. dollar weakened against the euro, providing more fuel for a rise in crude prices. In Bahrian, protestors focused on funerals surrounding the killing of two men. In Libya, 20 people were reportedly killed. The contract for March delivery of crude oil expires on Feb. 22. Volume on the April contract was higher.
