* OPEC says U.S. oil growth could slow in 2020
* Fed Chair sees 'sustained expansion' of U.S. economy
* U.S. crude stocks seen rising for 3rd week - survey
* U.S. crude oil stocks fall 541,000 bbls -API
(Updates with API data)
By Scott DiSavino
NEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up on
Wednesday on positive economic comments from U.S. Federal
Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ahead of a weekly report on
U.S. stockpiles.
Brent futures LCOc1 rose 31 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at
$62.37 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1
crude gained 32 cents, or 0.6%, to settle at $57.12.
"The complex received a lift today ... on a rebound in risk
appetite that appeared to be fueled by ... Powell's testimony
that emphasized growth and maintenance of low rates," Jim
Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena,
Illinois, said in a report.
Powell said the U.S. economy would see a "sustained
expansion" with the full impact of recent interest rate cuts
still to be felt. "The baseline outlook remains favorable," Powell said.
OPEC said it saw no signs of global recession and rival U.S.
shale oil production could grow by much less than expected in
2020.
OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said global
economic fundamentals remained strong and that he was still
confident the United States and China would reach a trade deal.
"It will almost remove that dark cloud that had engulfed the
global economy," Barkindo said, adding it was too early to
discuss the output policy of OPEC's December meeting.
He also said some U.S. companies were now saying oil
production would grow by just 0.3-0.4 million barrels per day
next year - or less than half of previous expectations -
reducing the risk of an oil glut.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), however,
projected U.S. oil output hit a record of 13 million bpd this
month and will grow more than expected in 2019 and 2020. EIA/M
U.S. crude inventories fell by 541,000 barrels in the week
to Nov. 8 to 440 million, data from industry group the American
Petroleum Institute showed on Wednesday, compared with analysts'
expectations for a increase of 1.6 million barrels.
The drawdown compares with increases of 7.9 million barrels
during the prior week ended Nov. 1, 10.3 million barrels during
the week of Nov. 9 in 2018 and the five-year average increase
for the week of 3.7 million barrels, EIA data showed.
Official weekly EIA data is due at 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT)
on Thursday. Both reports were delayed a day for the U.S.
Veterans Day holiday on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that
Washington and Beijing were close to finalizing a trade deal,
but he fell short of providing a date or venue for the signing
ceremony. Oil futures, however, briefly pared gains Wednesday
afternoon after the Wall Street Journal reported U.S.-China
trade negotiations "hit a snag" over farm purchases.