NYMEX-Oil hovers below $66 amid sombre economic mood

PERTH, July 6 (Reuters) - Oil prices hovered below $66 a
barrel on Monday after a series of weak economic data last week
cast doubt over the prospects for a global economic recovery.

FUNDAMENTALS

* U.S. crude for August delivery CLc1 fell $1.35 to
$65.38 a barrel by 2339 GMT. NYMEX floor trading was closed on
Friday for the U.S. Independence Day holiday.

* Nigerian militants said on Sunday they had launched their
third attack on Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research) since President
Umaru Yar'Adua made an amnesty offer, and threatened to
intensify their campaign of sabotage. [ID:nL5621954]

* OPEC member Kuwait's oil minister said the country wants
to see the price of oil stay above $60 a barrel. [ID:nSP530327]

* Financial markets ended the week on a sober note after
economic data, including weak U.S. jobs numbers, tempered hopes
of a rapid economic recovery. [ID:nSP531790]

MARKETS NEWS

* The dollar dipped against the euro on Friday, reversing
some of its sharp gains the previous session following weak
U.S. jobs data which dampened hopes that the global economy is
poised to recover. [USD/]

* U.S. stocks tumbled on Thursday, driving the S&P 500 down
to its third-straight weekly loss, as a steeper-than-expected
slide in June non-farm payrolls revived caution about economic
recovery prospects. [.N]

DATA/EVENTS

* The following data is expected on Monday:

- Japan Leading indicator for May, 1500 local time

- Britain Halifax housing prices for June, 1800 local time

- U.S. Employment trends for June

- U.S. Producer Prices for June

RELATED NEWS > Oil falls below $66 after bleak U.S. jobs
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for stocks[nN05119616]
PRICES
Oil prices as of 2338 GMT
Contract Mnth Price Change Day ago pct MA-20*
NYMEX Contracts
US Crude AUG9 $65.38 -1.35 -$2.58 -3.72% $68.33
Heat Oil AUG9 166.28 -3.88 -6.41 -3.63% 178.53
RBOB AUG9 175.45 -3.63 -6.82 -3.67% 194.71
Natgas AUG9 $3.585 -0.030 -$0.180 -4.74% $3.904
ICE Contracts
Brent AUG9 $65.05 -0.56 -$1.04 -1.56% $65.13
Gasoil JUL9 $521.00 -8.25 -$6.00 -1.12% $562.76
Note: U.S. heating oil and RBOB gasoline contracts listed in
cents per gallon.
* = 20-day moving average for continuation month.
(Reporting by Fayen Wong)