Crude oil prices head higher

Crude oil prices gained ground Tuesday in New York, topping $83 per barrel as traders took a cue from a two-day rally in equity markets. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for November delivery gained $3.43, or 4.3 percent, to reach $83.67 per barrel. Home heating oil for November delivery lost 0.07 cents from a midday peak to reach $2.885 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline shed 0.96 cents to $2.6264 per gallon. Henry Hub natural gas prices dropped 1.1 cents to $3.816 per million British thermal, units. At the gas pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline fell to $3.479 per gallon from Monday's $3.493, AAA said. In the past seven days, the national average price of gasoline has dropped 10.1 cents.