West Texas Intermediate rose for a second day on speculation government data will show crude stockpiles declined a sixth week in the U.S., the world’s biggest oil consumer. Futures climbed as much as 0.5 percent in New York . Crude inventories fell by 2.75 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg News survey before an Energy Information Administration report today. The coldest U.S. weather in almost 20 years also signaled fuel demand may gain. In Iraq , al-Qaeda and allied fighters vowed to resist government forces trying to retake towns Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says are under the terrorist group’s sway. “Markets are likely to trade mostly sideways,” said Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management Ltd. in Middelfart, Denmark . “Various issues remain in the geopolitical scene. We set geopolitics as moderately bullish.” WTI for February delivery advanced as much as 51 cents to $94.18 a […]