Oil gains on hopes US pandemic stimulus payments to spur fuel demand

SINGAPORE: Oil NSE -1.30 % rose on Tuesday, for the third time in four sessions, on expectations for rising fuel demand as the United States may expand their pandemic aid payments and a final Brexit deal is set to stabilize trade between Europe and the UK.

Brent crude futures climbed 36 cents, or 0.7%, to $51.22 a barrel, as of 0151 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures added 34 cents, or 0.7%, to $47.96 a barrel.

Crude rose along with a gains in Asian shares, with Japanese stocks hitting a 29-year high, on rising investor risk appetite as the U.S. House of Representatives voted to raise pandemic relief payments to $2,000 from $600. The Senate still needs to vote on the measure.