(Refiles to fix month in data release table)
SINGAPORE, April 29 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures were steady in early trade on Friday, after rising to a 31-month high settlement in the previous session, as a weak dollar helped stem a slide in prices from slower economic growth in the United States in the first quarter.
FUNDAMENTALS
* NYMEX crude for June
* U.S. crude rose on Thursday after a volatile trading session that saw a weak dollar attract investors seeking alternative assets. U.S. gasoline futures surged for a sixth straight session, driving prices to the highest level since July 2008 as the world's top consumer gears up for driving season.
* A Bahraini military court ordered the death penalty for four men Thursday over the killing of two policemen in recent protests, state media said, a move that could increase sectarian strife in a close U.S. ally. [ID:nLDE73R0QA]
* Libya's two-month civil war spilled over the border into Tunisia, provoking outrage in the western neighbour, while rebels in Misrata said only NATO could halt the bombardment of the besieged city. [ID:nLDE73R2EO]
* Syrian President Bashar al-Assad faced rare dissent within his Baath Party and signs of discontent in the army over violent repression of protesters that a rights group said on Thursday had killed 500 people. [ID:nLDE73R199]
* Syria's banned Muslim Brotherhood called on Syrians to take to the streets to demand freedom, a declaration by the movement said on Thursday, ahead of Friday prayers. [ID:nLDE73R2E8]
* U.S. crude oil imports in fell in February, after increasing for three consecutive months, the Energy Information Administration said on Thursday. Crude imports averaged 8.013 million barrels per day in February, down 1.056 million bpd from January. [ID:nN28285753]
MARKETS NEWS
* The dollar fell to a three-year low against major currencies on Thursday on the Federal Reserve's intention to keep interest rates near zero, while softer-than-expected U.S. jobs and growth data underscored the bearish sentiment.
* Silver soared to an all-time high on Thursday and gold rose to another record, as the dollar fell and as signs of a loose monetary policy stoked inflation worries.
* The Dow Jones transports closed at an all-time high on Thursday, leading U.S. stocks higher and signaling more gains due to its role as a touchstone of economic demand.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT) :
0430 Japan Govt oil demand, trade data Mar
1230 U.S. Personal income mm Mar
1355 U.S. U.Mich conditions final Apr
1355 U.S. U.Mich expectation final Apr
1355 U.S. U.Mich sentiment final Apr
1430 U.S. ECRI index Weekly
:: U.S. Dallas Fed PCE Mar
RECENT CRUDE OIL TRADES
Asia... Europe... Americas...
CRUDE OIL MARKET NEWS
Crude oil tenders in Asia........................
Crude oil supply outages in Asia............
Refinery outages in Asia....................
Global arbitrage news and flows.................
W.African crude imports to Asia, monthly........
REFINERY MAINTENANCE DIARIES
Asia... Middle East... Europe...
NATIONAL CRUDE IMPORT DATA
Japan..............
China..............
India..............
S.Korea............
Indonesia.......
CRUDE OIL INVENTORY DATA
Japan... US... Europe...
CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION/OILFIELD NEWS
OPEC output survey... New Asian fields.
New projects......
CRUDE OIL MARKET REPORTS
Middle East........... Asia-Pacific........
West Africa......... North Sea............
Asia outlook....... Europe outlook.....
Global futures report... Technicals report......
PRICES
For all Official Selling Prices......................
For a POLL on oil prices............................
NYMEX and ICE oil futures...........................
TOCOM crude oil futures.............................<0#JCO:>
Dubai, Oman swaps and spread...............
Middle East physical crude diffs...............
Australia physical crude, Tapis swaps..........
Asia-Pacific physical crude....................
All Asian crude oil differentials................<0#C-DIF-A>
All Asian crude oil outright prices..................<0#C-A> (Reporting by Manash Goswami; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)