Singapore: Oil prices were higher in Asian trade today, bolstered by a weaker-than-expected energy stockpiles report in the US, the world's biggest energy user, dealers said.

In morning trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for May delivery rose 25 cents to $106.15 a barrel from yesterday's close of $105.90 during US floor trading hours.

London's Brent North Sea crude for May delivery gained 36 cents to $104.35 a barrel.

The US government's Energy Information Administration (EIA) said that its crude stockpiles were unchanged at 311.8 million barrels in the week ending on March 21.

That contrasted sharply with market expectations for a weekly gain of 1.8 million barrels.
Source : PTI