Oil prices creep up following positive data [The News] 29 Aug, 2009

NEW YORK: Oil prices edged higher Friday amid resurgent demand in Asia and positive economic data in the United States and Europe that supported hopes the global economy is pulling out of recession.

New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for October delivery, rose 25 cents to close at 72.740 dollars a barrel.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October gained 28 cents to settle at 72.74 dollars a barrel.

The New York contract had clung to positive territory throughout the day, however the momentum was curbed late in the session by a rise in the dollar, which makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies.

'The flow of economic data remains firmly positive,' Barclays Capital analysts said in a client note.

'Meanwhile, in the oil market, evidence of a strong recovery in Asian demand continues to gather,' they added.

Friday's macreconomic numbers supported optimism that early signs of global recovery were taking root, promising an increase in energy demand.

In the United States, the world's largest energy-consuming nation, official data showed consumer spending rose for the third consecutive month, albeit largely due to federal aid.

In Europe, the European Commission's economic sentiment indicator for the 16-nation eurozone rose for the fifth month running in August.

JPMorgan Chase analysts cautioned that oil demand remained weak.

'Despite our confidence in the recovery process over the next six months, there is precious little indication from the energy side that industrial activity in the US, is recovering,' said Lawrence Eagles and co-authors said in a report released late Thursday

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