Crude prices settled up about 3 percent on Thursday, the eve of an OPEC meeting, as traders who expect no cuts in the group’s output hedged their positions in case of a surprise outcome at a meeting of the world’s largest oil producers. A tumbling dollar and a surge in heating oil prices also supported the rally in crude, which neared 6-1/2 year lows just a day ago. “Bear markets are known to have dramatic rallies,” said Jeffrey Grossman, crude futures dealer at BRG Brokerage in New York. “I keep telling people how vulnerable a market this low is to upward action.” Brent crude settled up $1.35, or 3.2 percent, at $43.84 a barrel, rising more than $2 at the session high. On Wednesday, it had closed down almost $2, coming just about 20 cents from making a new low since March 2009. […]