NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices climbed on Friday.

       The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery went up 1.62 dollars, or 2.24 percent, to settle at 73.81 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery gained 1.17 dollars, or 1.51 percent, to settle at 78.76 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.