Oil Steadies After Gains, Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Focus

Oil Steadies After Gains, Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Focus
Oil rig pumpjacks, also known as thirsty birds, extract crude from the Wilmington Field oil deposits area near Long Beach, Calif., on July 30, 2013. David McNew/Reuters
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LONDON—Oil prices held broadly steady on Tuesday as investors waited to see whether a Middle East trip by top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken will bring a halt to the Gaza war, which has raised concerns about supplies from the major producing region.

Brent crude futures dipped 8 cents to $77.91 a barrel by 0914 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 13 cents to $72.65. Both contracts gained nearly 1 percent on Monday, rising for the first time in four sessions.