Oil prices moved higher in trading dominated...

Oil prices moved higher in trading dominated by technical factors. The December contract for West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark grade of U.S. crude oil, rose 36 cents to close at $18.93 per 42-gallon barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Volume was moderate in volatile trading that saw the crude oil contract move between a low of $18.51 and a high of $19.18. Refined oil products also rose. Wholesale unleaded gasoline was up 0.27 cent at 49.46 cents a gallon, and wholesale heating oil advanced 0.53 cent to 55.47 cents a gallon.