Crude Prices Edge Up, With Supply Concerns Still Dominant

• Oil edged higher on Thursday, bolstered by strong demand and concerns about short-term supply disruptions, even though U.S. crude inventories rose for the first time in eight weeks. 
• Brent crude futures were up 18 cents, or 0.2%, at $88.61 a barrel at 1:12 p.m. EST (1812 GMT). The global benchmark rose to $89.17 on Wednesday, its highest level since October 2014. 
• U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for February delivery were down 26 cents, or 0.3%, at $86.70 a barrel. The contract, which expires on Thursday, climbed to $87.91 on Wednesday. The more active March WTI contract was up 5 cents to $85.86. 
• Trading has been dominated by supply concerns, from short-term issues like a temporary halt to flows in an Iraq-to-Turkey pipeline to a consistent shortfall from OPEC+ members in reaching targeted supply increases.

(Source: Reuters)