WTI struggled for traction above $68.00.........>

OIL: WTI struggled for traction above $68.00 overnight, with risk sentiment

taking hit on the back of the latest round of trade war worry, although WTI &

Brent did still manage to edged higher.

- Wednesday saw the latest DOE inventory release produce a "surprise" crude

headline build, much the same as the API report less than 24 hours earlier,

although U.S. production ticked lower in the latest week.

- Elsewhere a survey pointed to a rise in OPEC output during the month of July,

Russia noted that its crude production was moving higher (nearing pre-OPEC+

agreement levels), while Saudi pumped near record levels of crude.