Oil prices up 2% on China optimism as investors return from holiday
By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday as investors returned for the first trading day of the new year with an optimistic eye on China’s economy and fuel demand after a pledge by President Xi Jinping to promote growth. Brent crude futures rose $1.44, or 1.9%, to $76.08 a…