Crude Rises From Two-Week Low as Jobless Claims Fall

West Texas Intermediate crude rose from a two-week low as the fewest U.S. workers in more than five years applied for unemployment benefits over the past month, bolstering optimism that fuel demand will accelerate.

Prices gained for the first time in four days as claims in the month ended Aug. 17 declined to 330,500 a week on average, the least since November 2007, the Labor Department reported. The index of U.S. leading indicators rose in July by the most in three months. Chinese manufacturing resumed expansion and output at European factories improved. WTI’s discount to Brent narrowed more than $1.