LONDON: Oil prices rose Wednesday as investors awaited the end of the US Federal Reserve's closely watched policy meeting to find out the bank's plans for its stimulus programme.
Brent North Sea crude for delivery in November edged up two cents to stand at $108.21 a barrel in London midday deals.
New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for October gained 62 cents to $106.04.
With the threat of military action in Syria receding, attention has turned to the outcome of the Fed's two-day meeting, with expectations for a reduction in its $85 billion a month bond purchases, known as quantitative easing (QE).
Bank chief Ben Bernanke will make a statement after the meeting before holding a news conference.
"The Fed is expected to announce the long-awaited decision to taper asset purchases," DBS Bank said in a market commentary, adding that market consensus is for a "cautious" reduction of about $15-20 billion.
"The Fed's first order of business will be to reassure global markets that the taper will not derail the recovery," DBS said.
Oil prices recently hit multi-month highs on fears that the US would launch military strikes against Syria to punish the Assad regime for its alleged use of chemical weapons on its own people.
But prices eased after a US-Russia deal that will see Syria's toxic arsenal destroyed has averted an attack for now.
News that Libya has resumed some oil production has also helped put downward pressure on prices.
Protests by oil field workers since July had crippled Libyan production.
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