Oil prices up on drop in U.S. crude stockpiles, IEA data

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday after a drop in U.S. crude stocks and an IEA forecast for lower global stockpiles in the second half, but the Brent benchmark still hovered around $30 a barrel as a bleak demand picture curbed gains.Brent crude futures were up 80 cents, or 2.7%, at $29.99 per barrel at 0848 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 79 cents, or 3.1%, at $26.08 per barrel.Prices have ticked up in the past two weeks as some countries relaxed..