Shares of energy companies closed more or less flat as energy commodity prices finished mixed.
Oil futures rose to new seven-year highs, as momentum traders chased gains. Options markets are seeing a rush of wagers on $200-per-barrel oil, as speculative fervor in oil markets reaches levels not seen since record highs in 2008.
Natural-gas prices continued to retreat from recent peaks, tumbling 8% to close just below $5 per million British thermal units amid forecasts for mild weather in much of the U.S.
Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
10-18-21 1627ET
