WTI rises first time in three days on lower inventories

West Texas Intermediate crude advanced for the first time in a three-day period on Thursday after a report showed that inventories in the U.S., the world's largest consumer, declined last week. WTI for delivery in February gained 52 cents to $98.94 per barrel on the NYMEX and it traded at $98.92 as of 3:54 p.m. in Singapore.