CORRECTED-Oil prices steady, all eyes on data seen showing China GDP growth slowdown

(Corrects to say China is the world's largest oil importer, not
consumer, in 1st paragraph)
* China seen posting weakest growth in nearly 3 decades
-analysts
* U.S. crude stocks rose by 9.3 mln bbls last week - EIA

By Jane Chung
SEOUL, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Oil prices were stable on Friday
ahead of data that analysts say could show China, the world's
largest oil importer, just recorded its weakest quarter of
economic growth in nearly three decades, dragged down by a trade
dispute with the United States.
Global benchmark Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 fell by 9
cents, 0.2%, to $59.82 a barrel by 0039 GMT.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures were
up by 4 cents, or 0.07%, to $53.97 per barrel.
Analysts polled by Reuters expected China's gross domestic
product (GDP) to grow 6.1% in the July-September quarter from a
year earlier, the slowest pace since the first quarter of 1992,
the earliest quarterly data on record. The Chinese government is due to release its third-quarter
GDP data at 0200 GMT, along with other indicators for September.
With all eyes on the upcoming numbers, analysts expect
weaker economic readings to add to pressure on Beijing to step
up stimulus measures.
"The release of fixed asset investment and industrial
activity (data) in China will set the tone in commodity
markets," ANZ Bank predicted in a note.
Adding to downward pressure, U.S. crude oil stockpiles
surged last week as refinery output dropped to a two-year low,
while gasoline and distillate fuel inventories decreased, the
Energy Information Administration said on Thursday. EIA/S
U.S. crude inventories increased by 9.3 million barrels in
the week ended Oct.11, compared with analysts' expectations for
an increase of 2.9 million barrels.
Elsewhere, the joint technical committee monitoring a global
deal to cut output between the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) and partners, including Russia, found
compliance with cuts for September stood at 236%, according to
four OPEC sources. OPEC and its allies have agreed to limit their oil
production by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) until March
2020.