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* U.S. crude stocks fell 4.2 mln barrels in week to May 20 - EIA
* Slim hopes for OPEC intervention decision next week
* U.S. crude hits 7-month high, heads towards $50
* Militant attack grounds Chevron Nigeria activities - source
(Updates throughout, changes dateline, previous SINGAPORE)
By Karolin Schaps
LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - Brent oil futures climbed above $50 a barrel on Thursday for the first time in nearly seven months on signs that a global supply glut is easing, one week ahead of an OPEC meeting.
Oil bulls have been eyeing the $50 target in recent weeks and a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude oil inventories, indicating buyers are starting to mop up spare supply, has fuelled buying.
"There is a lot of speculation. I think speculation ahead of next week's OPEC meeting could keep prices elevated," said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist in Amsterdam for ABN Amro.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets on June 2 in Vienna to discuss the oil market.
However, the recent rise in oil prices and friction between key members Saudi Arabia and Iran mean that hopes for a coordinated effort to intervene in the market are slim.
U.S. government data showed on Wednesday that crude stocks fell by 4.2 million barrels in the week ended May 20, much steeper than the 2.5 million barrels forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll and the biggest drop in seven weeks.
Investors took this as a strong buying signal, pushing global benchmark Brent to a near seven-month high of $50.26 a barrel.
The contract traded at $50.01 a barrel at 0829 GMT, up 27 cents on Wednesday's close.
U.S. crude futures were up 19 cents at $49.75 a barrel, after coming within touching distance of $50 at $49.97, also a seven-month high.
Unplanned outages in Nigeria, Libya and Canada have also been adding to the picture of easing oversupply.
A source at oil producer Chevron said on Thursday its activities in Nigeria had been "grounded" by a militant attack, worsening a situation that had already restricted the supply of hundreds of thousands of barrels.
"Certainly ($50) is a psychological barrier. There is a momentum, people will try and push it up over that," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at Sydney's CMC Markets.
(Additional reporting by Keith Wallis in Singapore; Editing by Dale Hudson) ((karolin.schaps@thomsonreuters.com)(+44)(0)(207 542 6622)(Reuters Messaging: karolin.schaps.reuters.com@reuters.net))
* Slim hopes for OPEC intervention decision next week
* U.S. crude hits 7-month high, heads towards $50
* Militant attack grounds Chevron Nigeria activities - source
(Updates throughout, changes dateline, previous SINGAPORE)
By Karolin Schaps
LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - Brent oil futures climbed above $50 a barrel on Thursday for the first time in nearly seven months on signs that a global supply glut is easing, one week ahead of an OPEC meeting.
Oil bulls have been eyeing the $50 target in recent weeks and a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude oil inventories, indicating buyers are starting to mop up spare supply, has fuelled buying.
"There is a lot of speculation. I think speculation ahead of next week's OPEC meeting could keep prices elevated," said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist in Amsterdam for ABN Amro.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets on June 2 in Vienna to discuss the oil market.
However, the recent rise in oil prices and friction between key members Saudi Arabia and Iran mean that hopes for a coordinated effort to intervene in the market are slim.
U.S. government data showed on Wednesday that crude stocks fell by 4.2 million barrels in the week ended May 20, much steeper than the 2.5 million barrels forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll and the biggest drop in seven weeks.
Investors took this as a strong buying signal, pushing global benchmark Brent to a near seven-month high of $50.26 a barrel.
The contract traded at $50.01 a barrel at 0829 GMT, up 27 cents on Wednesday's close.
U.S. crude futures were up 19 cents at $49.75 a barrel, after coming within touching distance of $50 at $49.97, also a seven-month high.
Unplanned outages in Nigeria, Libya and Canada have also been adding to the picture of easing oversupply.
A source at oil producer Chevron said on Thursday its activities in Nigeria had been "grounded" by a militant attack, worsening a situation that had already restricted the supply of hundreds of thousands of barrels.
"Certainly ($50) is a psychological barrier. There is a momentum, people will try and push it up over that," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at Sydney's CMC Markets.
(Additional reporting by Keith Wallis in Singapore; Editing by Dale Hudson) ((karolin.schaps@thomsonreuters.com)(+44)(0)(207 542 6622)(Reuters Messaging: karolin.schaps.reuters.com@reuters.net))
