NYMEX crude edges up in Asia ahead of U.S. stockpiles data

          Crude prices held steady in Asia on Tuesday ahead of U.S. stockpile reports this week.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for delivery in August traded at $100.93 a barrel, up 0.01%, after closing at $101.83 a barrel overnight.Industry data due later Tuesday is expected to show a drop in U.S. crude stocks in line with last week's 1.7 million barrel decline, while government data on Wednesday is expected to show a fall of 2.025 million barrels as the summer driving season reaches high gear.

Brent oil on the ICE futures exchange in London gained 0.3% to $106.98 a barrel on Monday.

Fears that military conflicts in the Middle East will disrupt supplies have waned, sending oil prices falling in recent sessions, though by Monday investors felt the commodity had fallen too far, which sent prices jumping in and out of positive territory.

Libya recently struck a deal with rebels occupying oil ports under terms that would have insurgents give up control over terminals that have been closed for a year.

The deal should add 500,000 barrels per day of crude back into the global energy market.

Separately, ongoing expectations for the Iraqi insurgency to remain to the north of the country's oilfields also allowed prices to drop. - investing.com