New york: Oil prices rose at settlement on Wednesday, after data showed a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories. Brent crude futures increased by 83 cents, or 1.2%, to settle at $68.05 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 90 cents, or 1.4%, reaching $64.15. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. crude inventories fell by 2.4 million barrels to 418.3 million last week. This decline in crude stocks contributed to the upward movement in oil prices. Additionally, U.S. gasoline inventories experienced a reduction of 1.2 million barrels, further influencing market dynamics and contributing to the rise in crude oil prices.