Oil prices were marginally higher in Asian trade today in a market focussed on mild North American weather ahead of the latest US report on energy stocks, dealers said.At 0245 GMT (0815 IST) New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, was five cents higher at 62.26 dollars a barrel from 62.21 dollars in late US trades Monday when it dropped $1.22.Brent North Sea crude for February gained 15 cents to $62.28."It's not an overly aggressive market right now," Steve Rowles, said an analyst with CFC Seymour in Hong Kong."Right now I think we're just sort of focussed on the mild weather in the US and that's pushing the price down over the last couple of days."The latest forecast from the US National Weather Service said temperatures in the US northeast, the world's largest heating oil market, would remain at above average levels through to December 27."The weather forecast is predicting mild temperatures for the balance of the month so a softer heating demand outlook will somewhat undermine the case for buying," Fimat analyst Mike Fitzpatrick said.Rowles said the market was also looking ahead to Wednesday's weekly Department of Energy report on US energy stockpiles.
