Crude oil prices edged upward on Thursday with stronger-than-expected growth in U.S. crude and distillate stocks offset by evidence of supply cuts from major producers including Saudi Arabia. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.9% to $55.57 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures exchange. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate futures were trading up 0.5% at $52.52 a barrel. For the week ended Jan. 6,…