Brent slips on demand view, but stays above $109 on Algeria attack

Brent futures slipped on Thursday as concerns about a weakening global economic outlook revived demand worries, but the contract stayed above US$109 a barrel on supply concerns after Islamist militants attacked an Algerian gas field.

A series of data showing worsening economic conditions in Europe and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding an agreement over the US debt ceiling weighed across financial markets, while a forecast of weak crude demand in 2013 added to the pressure.

Brent had slipped 13 cents to US$109.55 a barrel by 0455 GMT. The February contract, which expired on Wednesday, settled 31 cents higher, while the March contract finished 5 cents up. US oil slipped 42 cents to US$93.82.

"There is a muddied, unclear economic picture. One day there is a bullish headline, the next day bearish," said Tony Nunan, oil risk manager for Mitsubishi Corp in Tokyo.

Worries about the global economy were revived after the World Bank cut its forecast for world growth in 2013 to 2.4 percent, sharply down from its previous estimate of 3 percent and a notch higher than 2012's 2.3 percent growth.

The World Bank pointed to weak growth in the developed nations as the reason for its downgraded expectations.

Data showing the European car market weakened to a 17-year low reinforced that view, while prospects of an extended battle over the fiscal crisis in the United States further undermined investor confidence.

The decline in economic activity may lead to poor energy demand, and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut its demand forecast for its crude in 2013 by 100,000 barrels per day to 29.65m bpd.

OPEC's is the second of this month's three closely watched supply and demand reports to be released. The US government's Energy Information Administration last week trimmed its 2013 demand growth forecast by 20,000 bpd.

The International Energy Agency, adviser to 28 industrialised countries, issues its report on Friday.

Renewed tensions in the Middle East sparked supply worries and kept prices supported.

Washington said on Wednesday that US citizens were among the hostages taken when Islamist militants raided a gas facility in Algeria and that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had telephoned Algeria's prime minister to discuss the incident.

The militants said they had kidnapped up to 41 foreigners, including seven Americans, in the dawn raid in retaliation for France's intervention in Mali, according to media reports. The raiders were also reported to have killed three people, including a Briton and a French national.

A surprise fall in crude inventory in the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, offered additional support to oil.

US crude stocks fell last week as imports dropped and fuel stocks rose, according to weekly data from the US Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.

Crude stocks fell by 951,000 barrels to 360.3m barrels in the week to January 11, the EIA said. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected stocks to rise by 2.3m barrels.

"The decline in crude use has taken place from previously elevated levels that had been encouraged by good refining margins," BNP Paribas analysts said in a report.

Imports fell by 312,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 7.99m bpd in the week.

Gasoline supply rose by 1.91m barrels, compared with analyst expectations for a 2.9m barrel climb.