OIL had its biggest daily gain since December, as oil supplies rose less than expected in the US and speculation grew that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates.

Benchmark oil for June delivery rose US$2.25, or 2.5 percent, to finish at US$91.43 a barrel yesterday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil rose as expectations mounted among investors for a rate cut next week from the ECB following another weak business survey in Germany, Europe's biggest economy. The gains grew after the US Energy Department said crude oil supplies rose by 900,000 barrels, or 0.2 percent, to 388.6 million barrels last week. Analysts expected an increase of 1.4 million barrels.

In addition, the dollar was weaker against the euro, which helped push oil higher. Oil is traded in dollars, so it becomes more attractive to investors with foreign currency as the dollar softens.

A big decline in gasoline supplies was also positive for oil prices, indicating that demand picked up somewhat, although it was still down 1.7 percent over the four weeks ended April 19.

Brent crude, which is used to price oil used by many US refiners, rose US$1.42 to end at US$101.73 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:

- Gasoline rose 3 cents to finish at US$2.75 per gallon.

- Heating oil added 3 cents to end at US$2.84 a gallon.

- Natural gas fell 7 cents to finish at US$4.17 per 1,000 cubic feet.