* OPEC keeps oil supply unchanged
* Communique calls for compliance with existing quotas
* Reuters poll sees lower U.S. crude, distillate stocks
(Updates prices at settlement, changes quote)
By Edward McAllister
NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose slightly in
thin pre-holiday trade on Tuesday, ahead of weekly inventory
data which is expected to show a draw in U.S. crude stocks.
Crude stockpiles fell nearly 1 million barrels last week,
as refiners drew down inventories, according to a Reuters poll
of analysts on Tuesday. Distillate stocks are expected to have
fallen by 1.9 million barrels. []
The new front-month February contract for U.S. crude
futures <CLc1> rose 68 cents to settle at $74.40 a barrel,
after earlier falling $1, pressured by a stronger dollar.
In London, Brent crude for February <LCOc1> rose 47 cents
to settle at $73.46.
"The late buying appeared to emanate from short covering
ahead of the weekly (inventory) stats," said Jim Ritterbusch,
president of Ritterbusch & Associates in Galena, Illinois.
Weekly inventory data will come from the American Petroleum
Institute report at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT) Tuesday and from
the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday.
U.S. equities rose on Tuesday after a bigger-than-expected
jump in November existing home sales reassured investors the
housing market was stabilizing and increased optimism about the
U.S. economy. []
"Oil may have also scooped up some support from continued
stock market strength," Ritterbusch said.
Crude prices fell earlier in the day after OPEC agreed to
maintain its existing production targets and as the dollar rose
against other currencies.
OPEC oil ministers, content with current oil prices, agreed
to leave output unchanged in a meeting on Tuesday and decided
to meet again on March 17. []
OPEC OUTPUT
Oil prices above $70 a barrel have satisfied OPEC in recent
months enough for the group to decide not to change its output
targets.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumps
about 50 percent of the world's oil exports and has seen crude
prices almost double since the start of the year, after it
sliced output when the economic recession hit fuel demand.
The deal left the implied target for OPEC output, excluding
Iraq, at 24.84 million barrels per day. []
But oil traders and analysts were worried OPEC members were
not sticking to their production targets and that output was
rising steadily. []
"There is some reason for concern because, if you look at
the numbers, the upside creep in production each month is
considerable," said Mike Wittner, global head of oil research
at Societe Generale in London.
"At this point, compared to the low point in
February-April, OPEC output is about 1 million bpd higher than
it was. So, although we are bullish going forward, OPEC really
does need to address compliance."
OPEC's adherence to its output targets peaked in February
at about 80 percent, but has since slipped to only about 60
percent.
(Additional reporting by Robert Gibbons in New York and
Christopher Johnson in London; Editing by Christian Wiessner)
