Oil prices higher on China, Syria

Crude oil prices held at more than $86 a barrel in New York early Friday on upbeat financial news from China and concerns about oil supplies in the Middle East. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for January delivery was up 55 cents, 0.6 percent, to $86.44 a barrel. Home heating oil was up 2.93 cents to $2.973 a gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline added 4.35 cents to $2.6456 a gallon. Natural gas gave up 6 cents to $3.29 per million British thermal units. At the pump, AAA reported a national average price for regular unleaded gasoline at $3.286 per gallon, down from Thursday's $3.301.