SINGAPORE (Commodity Online) : World oil prices eased in Asian trade Thursday after overnight gains on reports of positive manufacturing data’s from the US and China, world’s leading oil consumers.

Light sweet crud for October delivery was seen trading at $73.71 a barrel at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while Brent crude for delivery in October was at $76.08 a barrel in London.

Analysts said oil markets shift their focus on to upcoming U.S. employment reports following gains of almost 3 percent overnight on positive manufacturing data’s that lifted spirits across markets.

The US manufacturing sector expanded for the 13th straight month in August, beating most analysts' expectations.

On Wednesday, oil market however shrugged off data from the US Department of Energy that showed American crude inventories jumped 3.4 million barrels last week, far higher than the 800,000 barrel rise predicted by analysts.

Distillate supplies fell 739,000 barrels, going against forecasts for an increase and snapping 13 straight weeks of gains, while gasoline inventories declined 212,000 barrels, roughly in line with analyst forecasts.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for October, jumped $1.99 to $73.91 a barrel and Brent crude was up $1.71 at $76.35 a barrel London.