KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Oil prices were mixed Thursday ahead of the release of data on U.S. crude stocks. Investors are also watching for testimony by incoming Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen for clues about when the U.S. will cut back, or taper, its $85 billion monthly bond purchases that have kept interest rates low to support economic recovery. Benchmark U.S. crude for December delivery was down 4 cents to $93.84 a barrel at midafternoon Kuala Lumpur time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 84 cents to close at $93.88 on Wednesday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, was up 39 cents to $107.29 a barrel on the ICE exchange in London. The U.S. benchmark is down by about 8 percent in the past month. Traders say further declines are likely. U.S. crude stockpiles data for the week ended Nov. 8, due later […]