Singapore, Aug 23, IRNA - Crude advanced in Asia on Thursday as hopes rose that the US Federal Reserve would kickstart the economy of the world's largest oil consumer, analysts said

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October rose 43 cents to $97.69 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for October delivery gained 48 cents to $115.39.

Hopes for a fresh round of quantitative easing from the Fed were boosted Wednesday when minutes of its last policy meeting were published, IG Markets said in a report.

The minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting three weeks ago showed there was support by "many members" f