July 10, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 9,1424

LONDON, July 9: Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday as traders digested a mixed inventories report from the US government that pointed to a small but unexpected rise in US crude stock levels.

The price of benchmark Brent North Sea crude oil for August delivery rose 15 cents per barrel to $28.12 in late trading here.

New York’s reference light sweet crude August contract firmed three cents to $30.25 in early deals.

Crude oil inventories grew by 100,000 barrels to 282.2 million barrels in the week ending July 4, the US Department of Energy reported.

Gasoline stocks increased by 500,000 barrels to 205.5 million barrels on a weekly basis.

Stocks of distillate fuel — diesel and heating fuels — declined 500,000 barrels to 109.2 million barrels in the week.—AFP