Oil edges up in subdued trade before U.S. stocks data

By Karolin Schaps LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday in muted trading as investors awaited a clearer signal from weekly U.S. crude inventory data on whether a glut was easing in the world's largest oil-consuming nation. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 3 cents at $44.68 a barrel. The U.S. government's Energy Information Administration (EIA) will issue stockpile data at 1530 London time on Wednesday.