Oil prices rose Wednesday as a string of woeful economic news lifted hopes that the U.S. and other governments will move to stimulate growth.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange:

Benchmark crude rose 47 cents to finish at $88.97 per barrel.

Gasoline fell 3.19 cents to end at $2.7929 a gallon.

Heating oil rose 1.96 cents to finish at $2.8440 a gallon.

Natural gas fell 11.7 cents to end at $3.0700 per 1,000 cubic feet.

On the ICE Futures exchange in London:

Brent crude fell 96 cents to finish the day at $104.38 per barrel.