TOKYO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Oil prices were up on Tuesday

in thin trade ahead of the Christmas Day holiday, with prices

supported by U.S. economic data and rising oil demand in India,

the world's third-largest oil importer.

Brent crude futures were up 33 cents, or 0.45%, to

$72.95 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures

rose 29 cents, or 0.42%, to $69.53 a barrel at 0114 GMT.

New orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods surged in

November amid strong demand for machinery, while new home sales

also rebounded in a sign that the U.S. economy is on a solid

footing towards the year-end.

The United States is the world's top oil consumer.

In the shorter term, traders are looking for indications of

U.S. demand from the crude oil and fuel stockpiles data due from

the American Petroleum Institute industry group later on

Tuesday.

Analysts polled by Reuters estimated on average that crude

inventories fell by about 2 million barrels in the week to Dec.

20 in a sign of healthy demand. The Energy Information

Administration is due to release its data on Friday.

WTI crude oil finished the last three sessions just below

the $69.50 level as volatility seeped out of the market ahead of

the holiday period, IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.

"As such, I suspect we remain pinned in a narrow range

either side of $69.50, perhaps until Wall Street re-opens on the

27th," he said by email.

Meanwhile crude oil imports by India, the world's

third-largest oil importer, rose 2.6% year-on-year to 19.07

million metric tons in November, government data showed, on the

back of strong demand amid rising economic and travel activity.

In the Middle East, a fresh bid by mediators Egypt, Qatar

and the U.S. to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas has

gained momentum this month and gaps between the parties

narrowed, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials'

remarks, yet crucial differences have yet to be resolved.