Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday as China unexpectedly cut key policy rates for the second time in three months to shore up a sputtering economic recovery, but sluggish economic data from the country put a lid on gains.
Brent crude futures rose 11 cents, or 0.1%, to trade at $86.32 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 7 cents, also 0.1%, to $82.57 a barrel.
Prices turned higher after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) lowered the rate on 401 billion yuan ($55.25 billion) worth of one-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) loans to some financial institutions by 15 basis points to 2.50% from 2.65%.
