NYMEX-Crude edges higher above $64, after fall on econ fears

TOKYO, July 7 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ticked higher
above $64 a barrel on Tuesday, paring some of the previous day's
losses when doubts about economic recovery sent oil prices down
as investors fled commodity markets.

FUNDAMENTALS

* U.S. oil prices CLc1 settled at $64.05 on Monday, after
touching a five-week low of $63.40, as economic concerns
reflected in dismal jobs data, tepid demand and rising fuel
inventories pressured oil markets. [ID:nSYD537953]

* The U.S. service sector was still shrinking last month but
at a slower pace, with activity at the highest since September
2008, when Lehman Brothers' collapse exacerbated the global
financial crisis, a report showed on Monday. [ID:nN06492915]

At the same time, a separate measure of job growth fell
slightly in June from May's level.

* U.S. crude oil inventories fell last week for the fifth
straight week as refiners cut imports due to modest demand, a
Reuters preliminary poll of analysts showed ahead of weekly
industry and government reports. [ID:nN06498010]

* Saudi Arabia plans to keep oil shipments to the U.S.
unchanged in August, several U.S. buyers said on Monday, but
sources in Europe and Asia said the world's top oil exporter has
yet to issue supply allotments to their regions. [ID:nN06263888]

MARKETS NEWS

* The yen eased against the dollar on Tuesday, after gaining
broadly on Monday as investors nervous about the global economic
outlook shunned risk and took shelter in currencies perceived to
be safest in times of subpar growth. [USD/]

* Japan's Nikkei average rose on Tuesday after Wall Street
gained the previous day on a move into defensive stocks amid
concerns about the strength of the economic recovery. [.T]

DATA/EVENTS

* The following data is expected on Tuesday:

- Redbook Weekly U.S. Retail Sales (1255 GMT)

- American Petroleum Institute Weekly Oil Report (2030 GMT)

- ABC U.S. Weekly Consumer Comfort Index (2100 GMT)

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PRICES
Oil prices as of 0037 GMT
Contract Mnth Price Change Day ago pct MA-20*
NYMEX Contracts
US Crude AUG9 $64.27 +0.22 -$2.68 -4.02% $69.64
Heat Oil AUG9 163.22 +0.56 -7.50 -4.41% 177.81
RBOB AUG9 174.50 +0.46 -5.04 -2.81% 193.64
Natgas AUG9 $3.495 +0.008 -$0.128 -3.54% $3.885
ICE Contracts
Brent AUG9 $64.36 +0.31 -$1.56 -2.38% $69.11
Gasoil JUL9 NA -$12.00 -2.27% $561.34
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; Editing by Chris Gallagher)