LONDON, Feb 21: Oil prices picked up on Thursday in response to an unexpected fall in US crude stock levels, traders said.

Benchmark Brent North Sea crude for April delivery rose to $20.13 a barrel from 19.86 on Wednesday evening.

Reference light sweet crude March futures fell 59 cents to $20.29 on Wednesday as markets priced in the possibility of a price war between Russia and other leading producers.

But the market headed higher here after the private American Petroleum Institute reported a decline of 4.47 million barrels in US crude stock levels last week.

The fall, the first of this year, surprised traders.

Gasoline stocks climbed by 580,000 barrels, the API said.—AFP