Oil prices steadied on Thursday after a weaker dollar helped offset the negative impact of rising U.S. stockpiles, which drove U.S. crude prices to near three-month lows. Crude oil stocks in the United States rose 2.5 million barrels last week to above the five-year seasonal average, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), trumping expectations for a 2.3 million-barrel drop. U.S. September crude futures were 18 cents higher by 0827 GMT (4.27 a.m. EDT) on Thursday at $49.37, after having fallen $1.67 on Wednesday to settle below $50 for the first time since April. Brent crude was up 9 cents at $56.19 a barrel, after settling down 91 cents. Brent has lost around 12 percent in July, its largest one-month fall since March, pummeled by concern […]