Crude oil futures rose in the domestic market on Friday as investors remained optimistic ahead of the US nonfarm payrolls data which is expected to show a slight acceleration in job growth last month signaling an improving labour market recovery in the world’s biggest economy, lifting the demand outlook for the fuel. US jobless claims fell 11,000 to 346,000 in the week ended June 01 2013, the Labour Department said on Thursday.

The European Central Bank (ECB) predicted a recovery in the 17-member Euro area economy at the end of the year with the region’s economy tipped to return to growth next year, bolstering the demand outlook for the fuel. The Eurozone economy is tipped to shrink 0.6 per cent in 2013 before expanding 1.1 per cent next year.

At the MCX, Crude Oil futures, for the June 2013 contract, is trading at Rs 5,433 per barrel, up by 0.54 per cent, after opening at Rs 5,401, against a previous close of Rs 5,404. It touched an intra-day high of Rs 5,444 (At 15:18 PM).