New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, was up 30 cents to USD 52.37 a barrel.

The Nymex contract for April delivery expired on Friday.

Brent North Sea crude for May delivery gained 45 cents to USD 51.67.

"Right now, the crude oil market is primarily driven by the financial markets," said Victor Shum, an analyst with energy consultancy Purvin and Gertz in Singapore.

"What we are seeing in the crude oil market is a financial rally."

The US government is expected to to unveil the plan as early as today to sell toxic assets weighing down the financial system.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would detail the "Public Private Investment Programme" to entice hedge funds and other private investors into investing in bad assets choking banks' balance sheets, US officials said.