* Investors await Obama jobs plan * Harsh U.S. weather cuts refinery output, demand eases year-on-year * Brent upside seen limited (Updates prices) By Barbara Lewis and Simon Falush LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Brent rose on Thursday, pushed higher by a surprise fall in U.S. crude stocks, but gains were capped after the European Central Bank highlighted risks to its economy and traders awaited further pointers on the prospects for U.S. growth. The market rallied after U.S. government data, delayed a day by a public holiday on Monday, showed a bigger than forecast drop in crude stocks and reduced refinery use following storm disruption. Brent crude LCOc1 gained 59 cents to $116.39 a barrel by 1542 GMT, off a session high of $116.60 that just beat Wednesday's high of $116.50, which had been the strongest since early August. U.S. crude CLc1 added 72 cents to $90.06 a barrel as the discount to Brent gaped well below $26. Although the market drew some direction from fundamental news, analysts said the fixation was still on macro developments. "Oil prices are in the hands of macro financial developments interrupted by occasional local developments," said David Hufton, managing director of PVM Oil Associates in London. European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet highlighted downside risks to the economy at a press conference following the ECB's decision to keep interest rates steady, as expected. The euro fell to a two-month low against the dollar following the European announcements, potentially capping gains in dollar-denominated oil, which becomes more expensive for non-dollar investors. The dollar will take further direction later on Thursday when U.S. President Barack Obama lays out a package to stimulate jobs, which also has implications for spending power and fuel demand in the world's biggest oil user. Earlier on Thursday data showed jobless claims in the United States rose more than expected. Thursday's U.S. government inventory data flagged a fall in fuel demand compared with the same time a year ago. "There is clearly still an energy consumption recession going on in the U.S.," said Kyle Cooper, managing director at IAF Advisors in Houston. The inventory data was distorted by shut-ins following a tropical storm. Three further storms -- Nate, Maria and Hurricane Katia -- have developed, with Nate potentially the most threatening for U.S. oil and natural gas producers in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Technical analysts, who examine previous price movements to predict future movements, saw limited potential for Brent to rise. Gains could be limited to $116.83, said Reuters market analyst Wang Tao. (Additional reporting by Seng Li Peng in Singapore and Christopher Johnson in London; editing by James Jukwey)

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