TOKYO, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures stood steady above $100 a barrel on Friday after falling more than 1 percent a day earlier on weak U.S. economic data that raised worries about oil demand.
The latest U.S. growth estimate for the first quarter showed an unrevised 1.8 percent rise, but that was below expectations, and corporate profits unexpectedly shrank while weekly jobless benefit claims rose. [ID:nN26233734]
FUNDAMENTALS
* NYMEX crude for July delivery
* London Brent crude for July delivery
* A weaker dollar and concerns about Middle East unrest amid violent clashes in Yemen limited losses for U.S. crude and provided enough lift for Brent crude to end up 12 cents on the day.
* Seaborne oil exports from OPEC, excluding Angola and Ecuador, will rise by 370,000 barrels per day in the four weeks to June 11, UK consultancy Oil Movements said. [ID:nWLA1368]
* U.S. senators, hoping to rein in high oil and gasoline prices, slammed the U.S. futures market regulator on Thursday for not moving faster to crack down on out-of-control speculators in commodity markets. [ID:nN26199058]
MARKETS NEWS
* U.S. stocks rose for a second day on Thursday in a choppy session, with technology and consumer discretionary stocks leading the way after upbeat earnings.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 8.10 points, or 0.07 percent, to 12,402.76. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index gained 5.22 points, or 0.40 percent, to 1,325.69.
* The euro hit a record low versus the Swiss franc on Thursday on mounting doubts whether Greece will receive its next round of aid from the IMF, and the worries are likely to keep the single currency under pressure.
DATA/EVENTS
* The following data is expected on Friday: (Time in GMT)
- 0800 EZ Money-M3 3m moving av Apr 2011
- 0900 EZ Business climate May 2011
- 0900 EZ Economic sentiment May 2011
- 1230 U.S. Personal income mm Apr
- 1355 U.S. Reuters/U. Mich sentiment May 2011
- 1930 U.S. U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission positions (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori)