Crude oil prices bounced on Thursday on strong economic data from Japan and Germany, and as Chinese stocks picked up after the government launched new steps to halt a rout in its share markets. Front-month U.S. crude futures were up 84 cents at $52.49 per barrel at 0652 GMT, but remain almost 7.5 percent lower than the end of last week. Brent crude was 9 cents higher at $57.72 a barrel, though still 4 percent below last Friday. Chinese stocks rallied on Thursday after the securities regulator banned shareholders with large stakes in listed firms from selling, in Beijing’s most drastic step yet to stem a sell-off that has roiled global financial markets. The police are also investigating clues pointing to potentially “malicious” short-selling of Chinese shares, state news […]