LONDON, Sept 3: Oil prices firmed on Friday as traders examined a etter-than-expected payrolls report in the United States, the world’s leading energy consumer.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October gained just 31 cents to $77.24 a barrel in afternoon London trade.New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for October, added a marginal five cents to $75.07.

In an eagerly-awaited unemployment report, the US government’s Labour Department said on Friday that the US economy lost 54,000 jobs in August, far better than market expectations for a larger loss of 120,000 jobs for last month.

Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil Associates in London, said the report was “certainly positive” in the short-term for oil prices.

“Coupled with this week good manufacturing (data) from all over the world, it is bullish,” added Varga.—AFP