Oil prices rally ahead of U.S. inventory data

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices settled higher Tuesday as investors awaited official data on U.S. crude stockpiles.

The West Texas Intermediate for January delivery increased 0.30 U.S. dollar to settle at 57.46 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for February delivery added 0.39 dollar to close at 63.80 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. Enditem