Oil futures end higher, with U.S. prices at their highest since March

Oil futures settled higher on Thursday, buoyed by a hefty decline in last week's U.S. crude supplies and better-than-expected domestic jobs growth in June. August West Texas Intermediate oil rose 83 cents, or 2.1%, to settle at $40.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That was the highest finish for a front-month contract since March 6, according to FactSet data. There will be no regular trading for Nymex oil futures Friday because of the Independence Day holiday. Prices were up 5% from last Friday's settlement.

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