Oil prices steadied around $100 a barrel this evening as investors waited for key figures on US stockpiles on Wednesday.
US crude eased by 15 cents to $100.71, while London Brent North Sea crude rose 34 cents to $100.20. Prices hit a record close to $112 at the start of last week, but have since tumbled on profit-taking amid fears of lower demand for energy.
The US government's Energy Information Administration was to release its weekly snapshot of US crude inventories on Wednesday.
The update is a central focus for oil market traders because the US is the biggest global consumer of energy, followed by China.
