LONDON, May 21- Brent oil futures fell towards $104 per barrel on Tuesday on concerns that the U.S. Investors are focussing on the release of minutes of the Fed's last meeting and testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to Congress, both scheduled for Wednesday.
*Gold briefly reclaims $1,400 on Chinese buying interest. SINGAPORE, May 21- Gold climbed off session lows on Tuesday as Chinese buyers picked up the metal, easing some pressure on bullion which has been hit by persistent outflows from exchange-traded funds and has lost nearly a fifth of its value this year.
WASHINGTON- Two senior White House aides knew weeks ago that a probe of the Internal Revenue Service had found that the U.S. tax agency had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, but did not tell President Barack Obama, a White House spokesman said on Monday.
*Fresh conflict in Syria supports prices. CHENNAI, India, May 21- Brent crude futures steadied near a two-week high on Tuesday, holding around $105 per barrel as rising Middle East tensions offset concerns about moderating demand growth to keep prices in a tight range.
*Fresh conflict in Syria supports prices. Reports of fresh skirmishes in Syria suggest the civil conflict is at this year's peak, triggering fears it may spread to neighbouring key oil producers, while a weakening dollar added to the support.
SINGAPORE, May 21- Gold drifted lower for an eighth session out of nine on Tuesday on outflows from exchange-traded funds and as the dollar firmed, putting more pressure on bullion which has already lost nearly a fifth of its value this year. *Spot gold had fallen 0.4 percent to $1,387.86 an ounce by 0042 GMT.
*Myanmar president in first visit to Washington. *Washington wants to foster ally on China's border. WASHINGTON, May 20- President Barack Obama will walk a fine line between fostering a U.S. ally in China's backyard and trying to defend human rights on Monday when the president of Myanmar becomes the first head of his country to visit the White House in 47 years.
NEW YORK, LONDON, May 20- Crude oil prices rose on Monday, reversing early losses to trade higher by late morning in New York as the dollar weakened, but ample supplies of crude oil were expected to limit gains.
NEW DELHI- India and China will study new ways to ease tensions along their ill-defined border, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday in his first foreign trip since taking office, which comes just weeks after a military stand-off between the Asian giants in the Himalayas.
LONDON, May 20- Petroleum coke piled up along the banks of the Detroit River has sparked a storm of protest from local residents and environmental campaigners, who claim they are just one more problem associated with the bituminous tar sands being mined in western Canada.
*MSCI world equities highest since 2008. LONDON, May 20- Brent crude oil slipped towards $104 per barrel on Monday on ample supplies, weaker demand for fuel and a strong dollar, despite strong equity markets. Brent crude futures for July were down 55 cents at $104.09 per barrel by 1040 GMT, after three straight sessions of gains.
*Myanmar president in first visit to Washington. *Washington wants to foster ally on China's border. WASHINGTON, May 20- President Barack Obama will walk a fine line between fostering a U.S. ally in China's backyard and trying to defend human rights when the president of Myanmar becomes the first head of his country to visit the White House in 47 years on Monday.
NEW DELHI, May 20- India and China will study new ways to ease tensions along their ill-defined border, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday in his first foreign trip since taking office, which comes just weeks after a military stand-off between the Asian giants in the Himalayas.
*MSCI world equities highest since 2008. LONDON, May 20- Brent crude oil held above $104 per barrel on Monday, supported by strong equity markets and a slightly lower dollar, despite a weaker outlook for fuel demand and ample supplies. Brent crude futures for July were down 30 cents at $104.34 per barrel by 0810 GMT, after three straight sessions of gains.
CHENNAI, India, May 20- Brent crude futures held above $104 per barrel on Monday, supported by positive economic data and strong equity markets, while a moderate outlook for demand and ample supplies dragged on prices. "The oil market is getting into what I think will prove to be the top end of the range," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.
China and India disagree about large areas on their 4,000- km- long border and fought a brief but bloody war 50 years ago. "World peace and regional stability cannot be a reality without strategic mutual trust between India and China.
CHENNAI, India, May 20- Brent crude futures held below $105 per barrel on Monday supported by positive economic data and strong equity markets, while a moderate outlook for demand and ample supplies dragged on prices.
LOS ANGELES, May 20- In October 2004, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger rolled up to a pioneering fueling station at Los Angeles International Airport in a hydrogen-powered metallic blue Hummer loaned to him by General Motors Corp..