MARKETSCOPE : Energy prices were mixed on Wednesday after inventory news about crude oil, distillate and gasoline supplies.

January West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures fell 52 cents to $60.85 and January gasoline rose 3.98 cents to 168.57 cents.

A Department of Energy report showed crude oil and gasoline inventories rose a bit, and distillate stocks eased. Analysts saw the figures as bearish and uninspiring.

January natural gas futures, which had surged recently as cold weather engulfed the Midwest and Northeast, skidded 70 cents to $14.68 level amid profit taking from an overbought situation. A natural gas inventories report Thursday was expected to show a large decrease in stocks.