NEW YORK, July 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures extended gains to over $1 a barrel and Brent crude crossed over to positive territory to hit a fresh session high as the euro pared losses and as technical support strengthened.
U.S. crude was aided by traders positioning ahead of weekly inventory data with forecasts calling for a drawdown in domestic crude stocks while Brent was supported by supply issues in the North Sea as well as Libya and Nigeria.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange crude for August delivery traded 87 cents higher, or 0.91 percent at $96.02 by 11:38 a.m. EDT (1538 GMT). Minutes earlier it hit a session high of $96.24.
In London, ICE August Brent