Crude futures settle higher

NEW YORK, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices inched up on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for August delivery gained 11 cents, or 0.16 percent, to settle at 68.69 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for September delivery went up 23 cents, or 0.32 percent, to settle at 71.80 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.