By Claudia Assis, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures declined Thursday after data showed U.S. jobless claims edged lower in the latest week and as stocks traded in a narrow range.
Crude oil for October delivery retreated 45 cents, or 0.6%, to $73.47 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Other energy products also were in negative territory.
Oil gained Wednesday as positive macroeconomic data suggested demand could rise. On Thursday, however, more nuanced employment numbers failed to inspire traders.
The government on Thursday said initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to 472,000 in the week ended Aug. 28. Oil remained lower after the news. The four-week average of initial claims, a better gauge of employment trends, declined 2,500 to 485,500, the Labor Department.
Reformulated gasoline for October delivery was flat at $1.89 a gallon. Natural gas for October delivery lost 2 cents, or 0.5%, to $3.74 per million British thermal units.
