By Laila Kearney and Jeslyn Lerh

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Brent oil futures had been little modified in Asia on Thursday, hovering barely beneath seven-week highs, because the market weighed geopolitical developments within the Center East whereas ready for the upcoming U.S. stock knowledge.

August Brent rose 6 cents to $85.13 per barrel by 0315 GMT.

In the meantime, U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures (WTI) for July, which expires on Thursday, dipped 15 cents at $81.42 per barrel.

There was no WTI settlement on Wednesday on account of a U.S. vacation, which saved buying and selling largely subdued. The extra energetic August contract fell 17 cents to $80.54 per barrel.

futures edged up in early commerce on Thursday because the market digested information of Israeli tanks advancing into Gaza.

Israeli troops, backed by tanks, warplanes and drones, moved farther into town of Rafah, killing eight folks, residents and Palestinian medics stated.

“Markets anticipate an escalation in the Gaza crisis to dent the oil supplies from the key producing region,” stated Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

Nevertheless, the considerations over a list construct seem like overshadowing fears of escalating geopolitical stress for now, Sachdeva stated.

WTI crude slipped forward of the U.S. authorities’s oil inventories report, which was delayed by a day as a result of nationwide vacation.

The Vitality Info Administration is because of launch final week’s oil shares knowledge at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday.

An trade report launched on Tuesday confirmed shares rose by 2.264 million barrels within the week ended June 14, market sources stated, citing American Petroleum Institute figures, whereas gasoline inventories fell.

“EIA’s weekly oil inventory report will be scoured for any signs of weak demand,” stated ANZ Analysis analysts on Thursday.