Oil fluctuated in New York after more Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits and the index of U.S. leading indicators rose for a sixth month in March.

Futures traded in a $1.18-a-barrel range after the Labor Department reported jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 386,000 last week. The Conference Board’s gauge of the outlook for the next three to six months climbed 0.3 percent, the New York-based group said today.

Crude oil for May delivery traded in range of $102.03 - $103.21 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices are up 4.1 percent this year.

Brent oil for June settlement rose 48 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $118.45 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.