Oil prices rise despite bearish inventory figures

By David GaffenNEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose nearly 1 percent on Thursday, on track for a fourth straight day of gains, but analysts remained cautious about record-high U.S. crude inventories.Brent crude futuresgained 43 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $54.80 a barrel by 10:57 a.m. EDT (1657 BST).U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futuresrose 0.9 percent, or 47 cents a barrel to $51.60.