FINANCIAL MARKETS : Commodities : Freeze Drives U Orange Juice Prices

Orange juice futures prices added to their freeze-driven gains Thursday on news that Brazilian officials had halted exports to assess the Florida situation and decide whether to raise prices.

Near-month heating oil futures closed lower for the first time in nine days as waves of profit-seeking sellers swept through the market.

On other commodity markets, precious metals retreated; grains and soybeans advanced, and livestock and meat futures were mixed.

Heating oil for January delivery ended sharply lower on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but not as sharply as it was down earlier in the session during a virtual tidal wave of profit taking.