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by Stockwatch Business Reporter

West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery added $1.34 to $58.08 on the New York Merc, while Brent for February added $1.30 to $61.94 (all figures in this para U.S.). Western Canadian Select traded at a discount of $13.40 to WTI, down from a discount of $11.70. Natural gas for January added 32 cents to $4.68. The TSX energy index added 2.98 points to close at 297.53.

Oil prices headed higher as markets kicked off the final, shortened week of 2025. Supply disruptions were top of mind, amid Saudi air strikes in Yemen and Russian claims of an Ukrainian drone attack. This offset a somewhat bearish (and delayed) batch of supply data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which reported that U.S. crude inventories increased by 400,000 barrels in the week ended Dec. 19. Analysts were expecting a decrease of two million barrels.

Brian Paes-Braga's NG Energy International Corp. (GASX) added 18 cents to $1.14 on 2.36 million shares, as it unwrapped a belated but welcome Christmas present. It has finally secured Colombian regulatory approval for its Sinu-9 ownership overhaul. As discussed Dec. 23 -- after it sought a trading halt in anticipation of approval, only to issue a red-faced follow-up that trading would resume shortly because the ANH (National Hydrocarbon Agency) was not quite ready after all -- NG Energy reached an agreement way back in January to enter a joint venture at the Sinu-9 gas block with Maurel & Prom (M&P). They hoped for a closing date in the second or third quarter, but wisely gave themselves a deadline of Dec. 31. With days to spare, the last major hurdle of ANH approval has now been cleared.

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