Oil dips to $100 ahead of U.S. stocks data

By Ikuko Kao

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil dipped towards $100 a barrel on Wednesday ahead of weekly U.S. oil data, which was expected to show an increase in crude oil inventories.

U.S. crude fell 30 cents to $100.34 a barrel by 12:42 p.m. British time, after rising by more than $2 to as high as $102.84.

London Brent crude was 53 cents down at $97.64.

Analysts in a Reuters poll expect the government data to show an increase in crude oil stocks and drops in oil product inventories when it is released at 3:35 p.m. British time.

The analysts forecast a 2.4-million-barrel increase in crude oil inventories in the week to September 26. Distillate stocks were seen falling 1.2 million barrels with gasoline inventories seen down by 1.6 million barrels.

Losses were limited, however, by broader rallies on global markets due to hopes that a revamped U.S. financial rescue package would be passed.

The U.S. Senate will vote on Wednesday on a new version of the $700 billion (392 billion pound) bailout package for Wall Street, rekindling hopes that the credit crisis can be eased before claiming yet more banks and causing further damage to the global economy.

"There is a strong belief that the U.S. Congress will pass the rescue plan in a few days, so that's supporting prices," said Ryuichi Sato, an analyst at Mizuho Corporate Bank in Tokyo.