Investing.com - Crude oil prices were hovering near recent highs on Friday, as expectations for higher demand and news of a decline in global supplies continued to lend support to the commodity.
The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude October contract was at $49.84 a barrel by 06:30 a.m. ET (10:30 GMT), not far from Thursday's four-month peak of $50.49.
Elsewhere, Brent oil for November delivery on the ICE Futures Exchange in London was at $55.48 a barrel, just off the previous sessions's five-month high of $55.98.
Prices were supported as the clean-up after two major hurricanes in the U.S. gathered pace, boosting the outlook for demand.
The commodity was also boosted after the International Energy Agency on Wednesday said global oil supplies fell for the first time in four months in August, while also revising its 2017 oil demand estimate up to 1.6 million barrels a day from its July estimate of 1.5 million.
The data came a day after the latest OPEC report showed that oil production from the cartel fell last month for the first time since March.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said Tuesday that output declined by 79,000 barrels a day to 32.76 million in August, driven mainly by a drop in Libya, Gabon, Venezuela and Iraq.
Elsewhere, gasoline futures gained 0.63% to $1.636 a gallon, while natural gas futures slipped 0.20% to $3.064 per million British thermal units.