Oil price jumps to $45.56

Oil prices firmed up yesterday, as the NYMEX U.S. light crude oil for February series surged $2.17 to settle at $45.56 a barrel. The London Brent crude moved up $2.30 to close at $42.80 per barrel.

The metal segment, however, saw the COMEX gold drop $5.70 to finish at $421.60 an ounce.