Oil steadies, but on track for biggest weekly loss in over a month
Updates with details on China and prices as of 0648 GMT
By Florence Tan and Trixie Yap
SINGAPORE, Oct 18 (Reuters) -Crude oil futures steadied on Friday after strong U.S. retail sales data and the emergence of more fiscal stimulus to boost China's economy, though prices were still headed for their biggest weekly loss in more than a month.
Brent crude futures LCOc1 gained 26 cents, or 0.4%, to $74.71 a barrel by 0648 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was at $70.96 a barrel, up 29 cents, or 0.4%.
Both contracts settled higher on Thursday for the first time in five sessions after data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week.
Brent and WTI are set to fall about 6% this week, their biggest weekly decline since Sept. 2, after OPEC and the International Energy Agency cut their forecasts for global oil demand in 2024 and 2025 and concerns eased about a potential retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran that could disrupt Tehran's oil exports.
IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said while oil prices remained subdued on Friday, there were signs of near-term stabilisation after the market factored in fading geopolitical risks over the past week.
"The recent run in stronger-than-expected US economic data does offer further relief around growth risks, but market participants are also side-eyeing any recovery in demand from China, given recent stimulus unleash," he said in an email.
U.S. retail sales increased slightly more than expected in September, with investors still pricing in a 92% chance for a Federal Reserve rate cut in November. FEDWATCH/ US/
Meanwhile, China's central bank rolled out two funding schemes that will initially pump 800 billion yuan ($112.38 billion) into the stock market through newly-created monetary policy tools.
This follows slow third-quarter economic growth for the world's top oil importer, though consumption and industrial output figures for September beat forecasts.
China's refinery output also declined for the third straight month as weak fuel consumption and thin refining margins curbed processing.
Markets, however, remained concerned about possible price spikes given simmering Middle East tensions, with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group saying on Friday it was moving to a new and escalating phase in its war against Israel after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Geopolitical risks, such as developments in the Middle East, will continue to drive fears of supply disruptions and in turn short-term spikes in oil prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
Reporting by Florence Tan and Trixie Yap; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Jamie Freed
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