Oil prices rise on expected drop in U.S. crude inventories

By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked higher on Wednesday on expectations that U.S. crude inventories have dropped and on signs that the world's top oil exporters will stick to agreed output cuts that took effect this week. Global benchmark Brent crude futures rose 28 cents to $55.75 a barrel, a 0.5 percent gain by 10:51 a.m. Eastern [1550 GMT].