Oil prices are slightly higher in Asia trade because of a weaker dollar on Thursday, though the gains may not sustain as the near-term outlook remains challenging. Investors are awaiting data on U.S. oil stockpiles to be released later in the day by the Energy Information Administration, which may show an increase because of a seasonal slowdown and weaken prices. “Market watchers are expecting higher oil inventories,” said Barnabas Chen, energy analyst at OCBC Bank. There is also speculation that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries may raise a cap on production by around one million barrels when they meet on Dec. 4, he said, which may aid the bearish sentiment on crude oil caused by a supply overhang. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in December traded at $43.20 a barrel at 0418 GMT, up 27 cents in the Globex […]