Oil prices slide as Trump cancels aid talks, U.S. crude stocks expand

* U.S. crude stocks rose more than expected last week - API
* U.S. Gulf oil platforms shutting as Hurricane Delta
strengthens
* Norway union to expand strike if no wage deal agreed
* Coming up: EIA inventory data at 1430GMT

By Jessica Jaganathan
SINGAPORE, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Wednesday
after U.S. President Donald Trump dashed hopes for a fourth
stimulus package to boost the coronavirus-hit economy and on a
larger-than-expected build-up in U.S. crude stocks.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 oil futures
fell 87 cents, or 2.1%, to $39.80 a barrel by 0104 GMT while
Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell by 74 cents, or 1.7%, to $41.91
a barrel.
President Trump, still being treated for COVID-19, ended
talks on Tuesday with Democrats on an economic aid package for
his pandemic-hit country with the U.S. presidential election
only weeks away. Price were also pressured by data from the American
Petroleum Institute showing U.S. crude oil stocks rose by
951,000 barrels last week - more than expected. API/S
"(This was) not exactly what the recovery doctor ordered as
the oil market was already tanking from a two-week high after
President Trump quashed hope for a pre-election stimulus deal,"
said Stephen Innes, chief market strategist, at online brokerage
AxiCorp.
But losses were limited by restrictions on the supply side.
Energy companies were busy securing offshore production
platforms and evacuating workers on Tuesday, some for the sixth
time this year, as Hurricane Delta took aim at U.S. oil
production in the Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for 17% of
total U.S. crude oil output. In Norway, meanwhile, the Lederne labour union said on
Tuesday it will expand its ongoing oil strike from Oct. 10
unless a wage deal can be reached in the meantime. Six offshore
oil and gas fields shut down on Monday as Lederne ramped up its
strike, cutting the country's output capacity by 8%.