August crude prices edged up three cents a barrel to $14.90 by 1700 PDT amid light Access trade. "Until move news comes, you won't see much," an Access trader said. A surprising drop in US crude inventories lifted the August contract 32 cents a barrel to $14.87 on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) Wednesday. But failure to surpass the psychologically IM portant $15 level dampened trade.

On Access, crude traded thinly, with 781 lots exchanged by 1700 PDT, and 386 exchanged in August.

On Access, August unleaded gasoline rose 0.16 cent a gallon to 47.10 cents on light volume of 20 lots.

Front-month heating oil contracts failed to trade by 170 PDT, traders said.