Oil futures traded lower Thursday after the government reported that first-time applications for state unemployment benefits rose 54,000 to a seasonally adjusted 524,000 in the week ended Jan. 10. Crude oil for February delivery fell 68 cents, or 1.8%, to $36.60 a barrel on Globex. On Wednesday, oil futures ended lower after data showed U.S. heating-oil inventories rose more than expected and crude stockpiles at a key delivery point hit a new record high.

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