week lows. The Nasdaq's drop snapped a string of five weekly gains. NYMEX crude oil futures ended at a record settlement high of $48.88 a barrel, the highest seen on the exchange since crude oil futures were introduced in 1983, and within sight of the $49.40 intraday trading record set on Aug. 20. Traders said a move by the U.S. government to lend out some strategic crude stocks would not be enough to alleviate supply shortage worries. There were also rebel threats to oil infrastructure in Nigeria. Oil companies, which lost ground on Thursday on a ratings downgrade, recorded gains and helped support the Standard & Poor's 500 index. ChevronTexaco Corp. rose 1 percent to $52.83. Marathon Oil Corp. rose 2.4 percent to $40.52 after Smith Barney raised its rating on the company, saying long-term oil prices will be about 15 percent higher than it previously expected. --More 0034 Local Time 2134 GMT
