* Strong U.S. jobs data, bargain hunting help oil prices
* Product glut, slower economic growth weigh on market
* U.S. oil rig count up for fifth week in six -data
(Adds rig count data, market impact and price moves)
By Barani Krishnan
NEW YORK, July 8 (Reuters) - Crude prices steadied in choppy
trading on Friday, with Brent on track to its largest weekly
drop in six months, as strong U.S. jobs data and bargain hunting
by investors pitted against seasonally weak consumption of oil.
The oil market initially rose about 1 percent or more after
the U.S. economy posted the largest job gains in eight months in
June and on worries about fresh militant attacks on Nigerian oil
infrastructure. But the gains faded after concerns over supplies
later returned.
"It's choppy and will likely stay so," said David Thompson,
executive vice-president at Washington-based commodities broker
Powerhouse. "It'll be a tug of war today between the very strong
jobs numbers and the existing bearish oil market fundamentals."
Data showing the U.S. oil rig count rose by 10 this week as
drillers added rigs for a fifth week in six had little impact on
the market. RIG/U
Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 21 cents, or 0.4
percent, at $46.61 per barrel by 1:05 p.m. EDT (1705 GMT), after
a session low at $46.15.
U.S. crude's West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures CLc1
rose 15 cents to $45.29 versus a drop earlier to $44.77.
Both benchmarks were down nearly 8 percent for the week -
the largest weekly slide for Brent since January.
Crude futures remain some 75 percent above 12-year lows of
$27 for Brent and $26 for WTI hit in the first quarter. But the
market has gyrated since hitting above $50 as a glut of refined
products replaced worries about crude oversupplies that caused a
near two-year long tumble earlier.
Futures hit two-month lows on Thursday, with WTI breaking
below key support of $45.83 after weekly drawdowns in U.S crude
looked inadequate to assuage investor concerns. EIA/S
"I think we have strong support at $44 for WTI now. Some of
the gloom and doom on demand destruction for oil has gone away
with the U.S. jobs numbers," said Phil Flynn, analyst at
Chicago-based brokerage Price Futures Group.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CHART-Singapore gasoline margins http://tmsnrt.rs/29phXRW
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>