Crude oil prices rose near 60 dollars a barrel on Wednesday as U.S. distillate products inventories fell sharply.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, rose 90 cents to close at 59.83 dollars a barrel.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for December delivery climbed 1.11 dollars to 59.59 dollars a barrel.

The Department of Energy said Wednesday that crude oil inventories rose by 400,000 barrels to 334.7 million in the week to October 20. Gasoline fell 600,000 barrels to 204.0 million and distillate products, including heating oil and diesel fuel, fell 2. 7 million barrels to 138.6 million.

Crude futures have fallen more than 25 percent from its record 78.40 dollars per barrel in mid-July, as demand was downgraded and supply worries eased.