Oil climbed higher in Asian trade today on expectations a widely monitored US report would show a drop in fuel stocks, analysts said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, gained 50 cents to USD 79.64 a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for January delivery put on 73 cents to USD 79.70 a barrel. Analysts in the US expect the weekly Department of Energy (DoE) report due later today to show a drawdown in storage of distillate fuel, which includes heating oil and diesel.