LONDON, June 15: World oil prices soared on Wednesday as the market was unsettled by mixed data on US crude inventories despite the Opec decision to raise its official production ceiling. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, jumped $1.30 to $56.30 per barrel in early deals.

In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude oil for delivery in July rose 94 cents to $54.67 per barrel.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) said crude oil reserves fell 1.8 million barrels to 339 million in the week ending June 10.

However in contrasting data, the American Petroleum Institute said its private survey showed a rise of 4.49 million barrels to 328.35 million, after a sharp drop the prior week.

After publication of the figures, oil futures shot up to $56.70 in New York and $55.07 in London — levels last seen on April 6 and April 25 respectively. —AFP