LONDON—Oil prices held steady on Friday, poised to register a weekly gain as renewed optimism on China’s demand recovery overrode recession worries over growing U.S. crude inventories and tightening monetary policy in Europe.
Brent crude futures edged up by 4 cents, or 0.05 percent, to $84.79 a barrel by 0936 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 2 cents, or 0.03 percent, at $78.18.
Brent has risen by about 1.9 percent this week, while WTI is heading for a gain of 2.4 percent.
“Those betting on higher oil prices are basking in the afterglow of the positive macro data out of China,” said PVM analyst Stephen Brennock….