Crude oil closes above $100 a barrel; Gold flat

NEW YORK (AP) — The price of crude oil edged above $100 a barrel and gold futures inched higher. Agricultural futures also rose.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 77 cents, or 0.8 percent, to settle at $100.32 a barrel in New York Friday. Oil has gained 8 percent this month as optimism builds about the U.S. economic recovery and the prospect of greater demand for energy.

Gold for February delivery edged up $1.70, or 0.1 percent, to $1,214 an ounce. Silver rose 13.3 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $20.049 an ounce.

Crop prices rose. Corn for March delivery added 1.25 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $4.275 a bushel, March soybeans rose 8.5 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $13.1375 a bushel. March wheat rose 3 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $6.09 a bushel.