LONDON: Brent oil rose to $108 per barrel on Thursday as bitter cold in the United States boosted heating oil demand, though prices were capped by weak Chinese economic data and the US Federal Reserve's move to trim its monetary stimulus. Brent crude was up 18 cents to $108.03 a barrel as of 0922 GMT, after settling 44 cents higher the previous day.
US crude gained 47 cents to $97.83, having reached $97.92, its highest since Dec. 31.
Weak Chinese manufacturing data and the Fed's decision to stick with the plan to wind down economic stimulus despite recent turmoil in emerging markets weighed on riskier assets. But oil bucked the trend as a fall in US distillates stocks by more than double what was expected revived demand hopes in a seasonally weak period.
"There's more demand for products in the cold weather and that's feeding through to the oil price," said Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets. "I think WTI (US crude) has the potential to reach $99 per barrel."
The Fed's move to trim its monthly stimulus programme was widely expected, although some investors had speculated the US central bank might put its plans on hold given jitters overseas.
A pullback in stimulus will strengthen the dollar, weighing on commodities priced in the currency such as oil.
STOCKS TUMBLE
US distillate stocks fell 4.6 million barrels last week, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed, versus forecasts of a decrease of 2.2 million barrels.
Distillate inventories were 116 million barrels nationwide in the week ended Jan. 24, and on the East Coast, which has suffered two cold snaps this month, they fell 3.8 million barrels to 29.5 million barrels, the lowest level since April 2008.
Distillate stocks fell despite an increase in refinery production and a fall in net exports of oil products out of the country, analysts at BNP Paribas said in a note.
The higher production and fall in imports "were insufficient to prevent the large stock draw that leaves (distillate) inventories far below the bottom of the five-year range for this time of year," BNP Paribas said.
"With colder-than-normal weather expected in coming days, stocks may decline further." Crude stocks rose by 6.4 million barrels, far more than the 2.3 million barrel build expected in a poll, to 358 million barrels as refinery maintenance began.
Prices also remain supported by concerns over supply disruptions from the Middle East and North Africa.
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