West Texas Intermediate headed for a weekly gain amid speculation that U.S. fuel demand will increase as employment recovers. The discount to Brent shrank to the least since September after Libya signaled it’s ready to boost crude exports. Futures were little changed in New York and up 1.9 percent this week. Fewer Americans filed applications for jobless benefits last week than at any time since before the recession, according to Labor Department data. Brent’s premium to WTI narrowed to $4.06 a barrel yesterday as state-run National Oil Corp. lifted force majeure at its Hariga terminal, which rebels handed over to the Libyan government. “Libyan production will be bearish for Brent, and if there’s optimism on the U.S. economy, then that’s going to help boost WTI,” Victor Shum, a vice president at IHS Energy Insight in Singapore , said by phone today. “Looking back this week on the U.S. inventory […]