Oil steadies near $58 as U.S. rig count offsets Chinese data

Brent crude prices steadied near $58 a barrel on Monday as falling U.S. oil rig counts and signs of healthy U.S. growth offset concerns over the strength of the Chinese economy. Global benchmark Brent crude oil for March was up 10 cents at $57.90 a barrel by 1118 GMT (06:18 a.m. EST) after rising as high as $59.06 earlier in the session. While signs of an economic slowdown in China depressed the market, analysts said crude import figures remained high and the disappointing data was unlikely to d