NEW YORK, May 24- Brent oil prices crept higher on Friday, as traders exited short positions ahead of a long holiday weekend in the United States, but the weekly percentage drop was still the biggest in more than a month. Brent crude oil futures settled 20 cents higher at $102.64 per barrel, after trading between $101.65 and $102.79.
*Industrial commodities weighed down by shaky China demand. *Gold rises 2 pct on week, helped by conviction of more stimulus.
NEW YORK, May 24- Oil prices rose in late afternoon trading in New York on Friday after a report of a gasoline unit shutdown at a refinery, and as traders bought contracts to cover short positions ahead of a long holiday weekend in the United States.
*Shrinking factory activity in China limits oil demand growth. LONDON, May 24- Oil was poised to post its biggest weekly loss in more than a month, with Brent edging down towards $102 per barrel on Friday- pressured by ample supply and a sluggish economic recovery that could dent demand for fuel.
*Shrinking factory activity in China limits oil demand growth. SINGAPORE, May 24- Crude futures are set to post their biggest weekly loss in five weeks, with Brent edging down toward $102 per barrel on Friday, as ample supply and a slow global economic recovery fuelled worries that demand for oil would be hit.
*Shrinking factory activity in China limits oil demand growth. SINGAPORE, May 24- Crude futures are set to post their biggest weekly loss in five weeks, with Brent edging down toward $102 per barrel on Friday, as ample supply and a slow global economic recovery fuelled worries that demand for oil would be hit.
*Shrinking factory activity in China limits oil demand growth. SINGAPORE, May 24- Crude futures are set to post their biggest weekly loss in five weeks, with Brent edging down toward $102 per barrel on Friday, as ample supply and a slow global economic recovery fuelled worries that demand for oil would be hit.
PERTH, May 24- U.S. crude futures dropped to around $94 a barrel on Friday after disappointing China data and on lingering concerns the U.S. July oil futures contract had fallen 9 cents to $94.16 a barrel by 0038 GMT.
*BP, Shell, Statoil in EU oil price probe. NEW YORK/ CHICAGO May 23- A Chicago- based commodities trading firm has filed suit against three of the world's largest oil companies, accusing them of colluding to fix oil prices after European authorities opened an investigation last week.
*U.S. equities recoup earlier losses, supporting oil. NEW YORK, May 23- Brent crude oil prices retraced earlier losses after falling to a three-week low on Thursday in a broader commodities selloff, riding the coattails of a late turnaround in U.S. equities to end flat.
NEW YORK, May 23- Oil prices pared losses after falling to a three-week low on Thursday in a broader commodities selloff, supported as selling in U.S. equities tapered off on the back of encouraging domestic economic data.