Oil prices steady as traders await U.S. supply figures release

PanARMENIAN.Net - Oil bobbed near $101 a barrel Monday, Oct 21, as traders waited for the release of U.S. supply figures that were delayed by the government shutdown, the Associated Press reports.

Benchmark crude was unchanged $100.81 a barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 14 cents Friday, lifted by an improvement in China's quarterly economic growth.

Data on U.S. crude and fuel stockpiles is due for release later Monday and on Wednesday.

The Energy Information Administration said it will release data for the week ended Oct. 11 on Monday. That supply report was postponed due to the government shutdown. The supply report for last week will be released Wednesday.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, was down 3 cents to $109.91 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.