NYMEX-Crude oil steady below $49 after gains on Gaza

TOKYO, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures steadied on Tuesday, after settling more than 5 percent higher the previous day as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas helped lift prices.

* NYMEX crude for February delivery CLc1 was trading down 4 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $48.77 a barrel in Globex electronic trading as of 0023 GMT, after settling up $2.47, or 5.3 percent, on Monday.

* Oil prices have risen from around $35 a barrel since Israel launched its Gaza offensive on Dec. 27, heightening fears of possible disruptions of crude supplies from the Middle East. [ID:nL5700436]

* Adding to geopolitical concerns, Russian natural gas supplies to southeast Europe have declined as a result of Russia's stand-off with Ukraine over prices, which began on New Year's day. The two sides blame each other for the dispute. [ID:nLV634765]

* Weekly U.S. government petroleum inventory data due on Wednesday were forecast to show that supplies of crude, distillates and gasoline rose last week. [EIA/S].

* There were no plans for OPEC to hold an extraordinary meeting before a March scheduled meeting, an OPEC source said. Other OPEC member officials had said OPEC could meet early. [ID:nL51830]

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Oil prices as of 0023 GMT Contract Mnth Price Change Day ago pct MA-20* NYMEX Contracts US Crude FEB9 $48.77 -0.04 +$2.47 +5.33% $37.19 Heat Oil FEB9 157.63 +0.00 +9.60 +6.49% 139.82 RBOB FEB9 118.00 -0.24 +7.19 +6.47% 95.83 Natgas FEB9 $6.088 +0.016 +$0.101 +1.69% $5.696 ICE Contracts Brent FEB9 NA +$2.71 +5.78% $42.76 Gasoil JAN9 NA +$51.00 +11.92% $438.98 Note: U.S. heating oil and RBOB gasoline contracts listed in cents per gallon. * = 20-day moving average for continuation month. (Reporting by James Topham)