Crude futures settle higher

NEW YORK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices advanced on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for August delivery went up 84 cents, or 1.04 percent, to settle at 81.74 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for August delivery increased by 1.14 dollars, or 1.34 percent, to settle at 86.39 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.