Oil edges higher, growing U.S. supply limits gains

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices crept higher on Monday in quiet trade that featured bargain hunting after prices slid last week and hit seven-month lows, but gains were limited by rising crude supply in the United States and other countries.

Brent crude futures were up 25 cents, or half a percent, at $45.79/bbl by 1:13 p.m. (1713 GMT), still set for a near 20% drop in the first half of the year.

U.S. crude futures were up 35 cents, or 0.8%, at $43.36/bbl.

"I think it’s mostly bottom fishing at this point," said John Kilduff, partner with energy hedge fund Again Capital in New York, who noted there was some "book squaring" with the end of the quarter approaching.

"After how much we’ve fallen prices are attractive here as a result, so it’s not surprising that we're getting some buying, just on a valuation perspective."

In the week to June 20, investors in U.S. crude futures and options increased their short positions, or bets against rising prices.

"On a speculative basis it’s arguably worth going long here and playing for a bounce," Kilduff said. "The market is taking a breather here before we take a next move which I think will be lower."

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners have been trying to reduce a global crude glut with production cuts. OPEC states and 11 other exporters agreed in May to extend cuts of 1.8 MMbpd until March.

However, Nigeria and Libya, OPEC members exempt from the cuts, have hiked output. Iran was allowed a small increase to recover market share lost under Western sanctions. It said its production has surpassed 3.8 MMbpd and is expected to reach 4 MMbpd by March.

Also, U.S. shale oil output is up around 10% since last year. The number of U.S. oil rigs in operation has hit its highest in over three years.

“U.S. production could jump to 10, maybe 10.5 MMbpd by the end of the year, and when you add Libya, Nigeria and North Sea production that will negate the Saudi-led cuts," said Gene McGillian, manager of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Conn.

Analysts at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch said demand had not grown quickly enough to mop up excess output.

"Looking into the second half of 2017, we now doubt that demand growth will accelerate sufficiently," they wrote.