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Oil hangs on to last week's gains buoyed by Mideast stress, financial data

Oil rates were little changed in early Asian trading on Monday, hanging on to the majority of last week's more than 3% gains, supported by geopolitical stress and much better financial data.

Brent crude futures fell 7 cents, or 0.09%, to $ 79.59 a barrel by 0021 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate unrefined futures rose 2 cents, or 0.03%, to $76.86.

Traders stay mindful of simmering stress in the Middle East, ANZ analysts said in a note.

The danger of an escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continued to support rates after Iran and Hezbollah pledged to retaliate for the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah military leader Fuad Shukr.

The Israeli incursion into Gaza heightened on Saturday with an airstrike on a school substance that eliminated a minimum of 90 individuals, according to the Gaza Civil Emergency Service, though Israel said the death toll was pumped up. Hamas called into question its involvement in brand-new ceasefire talks on Sunday.

Brent ended last week up more than 3.5% on the week, while WTI got more than 4%, on encouraging financial data and increased hopes of a U.S. rate of interest cut.

Three U.S. central lenders stated recently that inflation appeared to be cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates as quickly as next month.

China's consumer prices rose faster than anticipated in July, and U.S. weekly jobless claims fell more than anticipated last week.

(source: Reuters)