* Oil extends previous session's 5 pct loss
* Markets shrugs off news on more OPEC supply cuts
* Analysts expect IEA to cut energy demand forecasts
(Updates prices, Qatar supply)
SINGAPORE, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Oil inched lower on
Wednesday, after falling 5 percent a day ago to close below $60
for the first time since March 2007, as weakening energy demand
more than offset news of more supply reductions.
News that OPEC may cut supplies by an additional 1 million
barrels per day (bpd) when it meets in Algeria next month did
little to prevent the downward spiral that has knocked 60
percent off oil's value from a record high of over $147 in
mid-July.
U.S. crude for December delivery <CLc1> was trading 14
cents lower at $59.19 by 0550 GMT. In the last session, the
market settled down $3.08 at $59.33 a barrel, its lowest
settlement in 20 months.
London Brent crude <LCOc1> shed 6 cents at $55.65 a barrel.
"It's bearish news all around. I expect the IEA to further
revise down the energy demand forecasts. A price of $55 is
possible in the next few days," said Tobias Merath, head of
commodities research at Credit Suisse.
"Even the new set of industrial production numbers due from
China and Japan this week should be having a bearish
undertone."
China's industrial production growth slowed to about 8
percent in the year to October, the first time it has been in
single digits since the end of 2001, an official familiar with
the data said earlier this week. The official data is due on
Thursday.
In a research note, Credit Suisse added the U.S. Department
of Energy would probably cut its one-year WTI price forecast
when its publishes its Short Term Energy Outlook on Thursday.
The World Bank has slashed its 2009 forecast for developing
countries and has offered new financing of more than $100
billion over the next three years to help cope with the
financial crisis.
It revised downward its growth forecast for developing
economies to 4.5 percent for next year, from 6.4 percent
projected in June, on a combination of financial turmoil,
slower exports and weaker commodity prices.
An OPEC source said on Tuesday the cartel might cut oil
output by a further 1 million barrels per day when it meets
next month in Algeria because of slowing world demand.
[]
OPEC agreed last month to cut production by 1.5 million bpd
from Nov. 1 after the sharp fall in oil prices.
But Qatar, one of OPEC's smallest members, has told at
least two term buyers in Asia it would not cut its crude oil
supplies to them for November and December, sources with the
lifters said on Wednesday. []
This came even after Energy Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah
told Reuters last week that Qatar had cut crude oil exports to
Asia by about 40,000 bpd from this month in line with the OPEC
agreement.
U.S. weekly inventory data was expected to show an
800,000-barrel rise in crude stocks last week as demand
continues to slow, a Reuters poll of analysts found. []
Distillate stocks should rise by 500,000 barrels and
gasoline by 800,000 barrels, the poll showed. The data will be
released on Thursday, a day later than usual due to the U.S.
Veterans' Day holiday on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Sambit Mohanty; Editing by Ramthan Hussain)
