Oil price up in Asia

Singapore, May 19: Oil rose in Asian trade on Thursday, May 19, after US oil stockpiles did not increase as expected, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, advanced 13 cents to USD 100.23 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for July delivery gained 13 cents to USD 112.43.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) in its weekly report yesterday showed American crude stockpiles had failed to rise as expected in the week ending May 13.

Stockpiles steadied last week, bucking forecasts for a rise of 700,000 barrels, according to analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

"This was one key reason why crude oil prices was performing impressively," said Ker Chung Yang, a Singapore- based commodity analyst at Phillip Futures.

"Crude oil prices will likely hang around the USD 100 level for quite some time unless there is a strong impetus to bring it down," Ker told AFP.

Traders closely monitor the DoE report for clues on US demand as it is the world''s biggest oil consumer.

AFP