On the New York Mercantile Exchange on Thursday, Crude oil prices held steady above $76 per barrel.

Crude oil inventories rose by 2 million barrels in the week ending June 18, the U. S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, adding to pressure on oil trading that was initially pushed from its 2010 peak by the escalating debt crisis in Europe.

July delivery crude oil prices added 12 cents from a prior settlement to $76.47 per barrel.

Losing 0.012 cents, heating oil prices for July delivery went down to $2.0564 per gallon.

Reformulated gasoline blend-stock prices added 0.0082 cents to $2.0905 per gallon.

It has also been reported that Henry Hub natural gas prices lost 0.035 cents to $4.769 per million British thermal units.

According to the reports of AAA, the national average price for unleaded regular gasoline at the pump rose to $2.753 per gallon from Wednesday's $2.741. (With Inputs from Agencies)