Oil edges lower ahead of U.S. crude inventory data

By Karolin Schaps LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday ahead of weekly U.S. crude inventory data as investors awaited a clearer signal on whether a glut was easing in the world's largest oil-consuming nation. Russia's energy minister added to the bearish impetus as he dashed any hope that the world's biggest oil producers could coordinate on output to stem global oversupply. Global benchmark Brent crude prices were down 5 cents at $46.61 a barrel at 0826 GMT.