West Texas Intermediate trimmed a second weekly drop before data forecast to show U.S. employers boosted headcount in April by the most in five months. Brent pared a weekly loss amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine . Futures rose 0.5 percent in New York , curbing this week’s decline to 0.7 percent. Payrolls rose by 218,000 last month after a 192,000 gain in March, according to a Bloomberg survey. Ukraine sent armored vehicles and artillery to retake Slovyansk from pro-separatist forces, defying Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s demand to pull back troops. “The uptick in prices seems to be a bit of adjustment of positions before the upcoming non-farm payroll figure,” Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management Ltd. in Middelfart, Denmark , said by e-mail. “Economic numbers have showed signs of an improving U.S. economy lately.” WTI for June delivery advanced as much as 67 cents to […]