Brent slips toward $108 after sharp rally, US data in focus

SINGAPORE: Brent crude fell towards $108 per barrel on Monday after a sharp rally in the previous session, as investors waited for a slew of US data this week for hints on when the Federal Reserve will start winding back its stimulus.

Higher production by top exporter Saudi Arabia in July and the resumption of exports from Libya's largest crude oil export terminal also dragged on sentiment. But signs of stabilising growth in China, the world's No.2 oil consumer after the United States, cushioned prices.

Brent edged down 15 cents to $108.07 a barrel by 0638 GMT, after touch a low of $107.72 earlier. US crude rose 9 cents to $106.06 a barrel.

"In terms of the mood this morning, a lot of the focus is going to be on the US. There are several key data points due out this week which will be key in ascertaining if the Federal Reserve will start paring back stimulus next month," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at Sydney-based CMC Markets.

"My view is that the possibility of a Federal Reserve pulling back stimulus is very real for September."

The United States reports retail sales, consumer prices, housing starts, industrial production and surveys of regional manufacturing this week. Any reduction in economic stimulus by the Fed will cut the flow of cheap central bank money that has boosted market liquidity.

According to technical charts, Brent is expected to seek support at $107.40 while US oil may drop to $104.74, a Reuters market analyst said.

Both benchmarks logged their biggest daily percentage gains in a week on Friday following unexpected strength in China trade data, which offered some hope that the world's No.2 economy might be stabilising after more than two years of slowing growth.

"We still have to be cautious when we look at the Chinese data. We definitely see what appears to represent a steadying, but one month's figures doesn't make a trend, so let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet," Spooner said.

China's oil imports rose to a record in July, although implied oil demand softened from a four-month high in June.

Worries that tensions in Egypt and Syria could spill over into Gulf oil producing countries and disrupt supplies are expected to support crude prices.