Oil Rises to Five-Week High

Crude oil rose Thursday to its highest level since Jan. 14, Bloomberg reported.

Futures for March delivery settled $79.06 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, rising $1.73 over Wednesday's settlement, Bloomberg said.

An index of leading economic indicators rose for the tenth straight month in January, the New York-based Conference Board said Thursday.

A Department of Energy report showed the demand for fuel has increased in the last four weeks, and refineries are bolstering operating rates, Bloomberg said.