Oil price hits $69 per barrel after Niger Delta Avengers threats of attack

Oil prices rose on Thursday on a reported decline in U.S. crude inventories, and as the Niger Delta Avengers threatened to attack oil installations in the region.

Brent crude futures were at $69.56 at 0255 GMT, up 18 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last close. On Monday, they hit their highest since December, 2014 at $70.37 a barrel.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $64.25 a barrel, up 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last settlement. WTI marked a December-2014 peak of $64.89 a barrel on Tuesday.