LONDON, June 13: World oil prices climbed on Wednesday after a key US government report showed that American stockpiles of gasoline or petrol were unchanged last week.

The market was also awaiting a report by the UN atomic watchdog on the controversial nuclear programme being pursued by Iran, the world's fourth biggest producer of crude oil.

Brent North Sea crude for July delivery jumped $1.12 to $69.91 per barrel in electronic deals.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, climbed 68 cents to $66.03 per barrel in floor trading.

Prices reversed earlier losses after the US Department of Energy said on Wednesday that US inventories of motor fuel were flat at 201.5 million barrels in the week ending June 8.

Market expectations were for a gain of 1.6 million barrels - which would have been the sixth weekly increase in a row for gasoline.

“The unchanged gasoline stocks were the big bullish surprise in the data set,” said Citi analyst Tim Evans.—AFP