Oil prices up slightly in quiet trading  The price of oil is
edging higher along with the stock market.  Benchmark crude rose
12 cents to $96.39 in New York. All three major stock indexes
rose in late morning trading.  The government reported weaker-
than-expected July orders for durable goods such as computers
and machinery. Oil often falls after gloomy economic news but
then recovers on hopes that government officials or central
banks will act to boost economies.  Natural gas prices are up a
half-percent to $2.8140 per thousand cubic feet.  Gasoline
prices at the pump are up more than a penny to $3.73 per gallon.
Heating oil prices rose a half-penny to $3.1451 per gallon.  The
Associated Press