NEW YORK, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Crude prices rose on Thursday after the U.S. government said the number of newly laid-off workers signing up for jobless benefits dropped unexpectedly.

    The Labor Department said a record 6.3 million people drew unemployment benefits last week. However, the number of newly laid-off workers signing up for jobless benefits dropped to a seasonally adjusted 631,000.

    Investors also shrugged off a World Health Organization warning that a swine flu pandemic was imminent.

    In addition, the Economic Cycle Research Institute said the U.S. recession will probably end before the summer is out.

    Light, sweet crude for June delivery was up 15 cents to settle at 51.12 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent prices rose 2 cents to settle at 50.80 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.