Oil steadies as U.S. inventories send mixed signals

By Christopher Johnson LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Thursday after the U.S. Energy Department reported a ninth consecutive weekly drawdown of crude stocks but an overall build in oil inventories. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery , the new front-month contract from Thursday, was up 12 cents at $45.87 a barrel at 1035 GMT. Brent crude was up 10 cents at $47.27 a barrel.