Investing.com - Crude oil prices remained supported on Friday, climbing to two-week highs following news of a third weekly decline in U.S. crude stockpiles, strong import data from China and recent signals the market is tightening.
The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude November contract was up$1.09 or about 2.15% at $51.67 a barrel by 09:15 a.m. ET (13:15 GMT),its highest since September 29.
Elsewhere, Brent oil for December delivery on the ICE Futures Exchange in London was up $1.15 or about 2.01% at $57.38 a barrel, also the highest level since September 29.
Prices rose after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report on Thursday that crude oil inventories fell by 2.75 million barrels in the week ended October 6.
Earlier Friday, official data showed that China's imports increased by 18.7% last month. China is the world's biggest oil importer.
The commodity was also supported after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries indicated, in its monthly report on Wednesday, that market rebalancing will continue amid forecasts that global oil demand will rise by around 30,000 barrels a day for this year and 2018.
In its own monthly report on Thursday, the International Energy Agency said that global supply and demand for crude oil will be largely balanced next year.
In other news, U.S. President Trump was expected to announce Friday that he will abide by an international nuclear deal with Iran for now, but ask Congress to attach new conditions which could potentially lead to its rupture.
The Persian nation is an OPEC member and key Middle Eastern oil producer.
Elsewhere, gasoline futures were up 2.37% at $1.625 a gallon, while natural gas futures rallied 1.17% to $3.024 per million British thermal units.