Oil for February delivery rebounded from early losses to close above $43 a barrel in Thursday’s abbreviated session, the last trading day of 2004, to score a 33.7 percent gain on the year.

February crude oil prices ended the day at $43.45 a barrel, up from an early session low of $42.52 but still 19 cents less than Wednesday’s close at $43.64.

Prices came under pressure from unseasonably mild weather, a weak heating demand forecast for the weekend, and escalating Islamic militant violence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where two car bombs rocked the area on Wednesday.

Trading concluded at 1 p.m. ahead of the New Year’s Day holiday.