NYMEX-Crude ends higher, snaps 6-day losing streak

* U.S. jobless aid claims lowest since Jan-gov't

* Wall Street up as tech, commodity shares rise

* Dollar dips, risk appetite up on jobless claims

NEW YORK, July 9 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended
higher on Thursday, snapping a six-day losing streak amid
bargain hunting, a drop in jobless benefit claims and as
gasoline futures staged a late, supportive rally.

While the jobless claims data somewhat eased doubts about
an economic recovery, analysts noted that technically, oil
markets had been oversold in the past week and that spurred
bargain-hunting, which began overnight in Asia.

There were also reassuring signs of second-quarter
corporate results that helped crude to push higher early.

In late trading, Wall Street rose as investors snapped up
beaten-down technology and commodity shares, while a positive
broker comment on Goldman Sachs lifted financial equities [.N]

The dollar fell against most currencies as investors pared
back on safety trades after data showed a sharp decline in the
number of Americans filing for initial jobless benefits.[USD/]

Gasoline futures ended up nearly 2 percent, also recovering
from an oversold condition.

"I think there was some bargain hunting on the gasoline
market," said Tim Evans, analyst at Citi Futures Perspective in
New York.

"Some refiners were talking about shutting down. The
Valero report that they were ramping down production at the
Aruba refinery and Shell's announcement that it was reviewing
their East Montreal refinery makes gasoline supplies seem a
little less secure," Evans said.

NYMEX August crude futures settled on Wednesday at the
lowest level in seven weeks, hammered by large increases in
distillate inventories, which hit their highest level in 25
years, and gasoline stocks last week. [EIA/S]

PRICES

* On the New York Mercantile Exchange settled up 27 cents,
or 0.45 percent, at $60.41 a barrel, trading from $59.25 to
$61.62. The day's low was the cheapest since May 19, when
front-month crude futures hit $58.55.

* The June 30 peak of $73.38 was the highest intraday
front-month crude oil price since crude hit $75.69 on Oct. 21.

* In London, August Brent crude LCOQ9 ended up 67 cents,
or 1.11 percent, at $61.10 a barrel, trading from $59.76 to
$62.17.

* NYMEX August RBOB RBQ9 settled up 3.05 cents, or 1.87
percent, at $1.6638 a gallon, trading from $1.6241 to $1.6791.

* NYMEX August heating oil HOQ9 ended down 0.35 cent, or
0.23 percent, at $1.5344 a gallon, trading from $1.5109 to
$1.5689.

* The August/August RBOB crack spread <0#RB-CL=R> ended at
was at $9.47 up from $8.46 on Wednesday. The August/August
heating oil crack spread <0#CL-HO=R> ended at $4.03, down from
$4.45 on Wednesday.

* The spread between the current front month and the
five-year forward crude contract CLc61 ended at $18.82,
widening from Wednesday's $17.86. The August 2014 contract
settled at $79.23, up $1.23, or 1.58 percent.

MARKET NEWS

* Initial claims for state unemployment insurance fell
52,000 to a much lower-than-expected seasonally adjusted
565,000 in the week ended July 4 from 617,000 the prior week,
the Labor Department said. It was the lowest reading since
January. For details, see [ID:nN08382700]

* OPEC seaborne oil exports, excluding Angola and Ecuador,
will fall 50,000 barrels per day to 22.80 million bpd in the
four weeks to July 25, said Roy Mason, an analyst at UK
consultancy Oil Movements, who tracks future shipments.
[ID:nWLA8676]

* Valero Energy Corp (VLO.N) said it had begun the process
of a planned two- to three-month shutdown, mainly due to
economic reasons, of its 275,000-bpd Aruba refinery.
[ID:nN09456571]

* Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) said it is conducting a
strategic review of its Montreal East refinery in Canada, which
may lead to a closure or sale as the industry struggles with
weak profit margins. [ID:nN09449064]

* The U.S. Climate Prediction Center said that the
equatorial Pacific Ocean El Nino is developing and could
strengthen. While its effects could threaten the Asia-Pacific
region, it may also result in fewer storms sweeping in from the
Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. [ID:nN09340413]

* The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE.N), the Atlanta-based
exchange operator, said Thursday it welcomes the chance to
present its views in hearings being scheduled by the CFTC.
[ID:nN09443645]
(Reporting by Gene Ramos, Matthew Robinson, Joshua Scheneyer,
Rene Pastor and Haitham Haddadin; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)