2016.07.2208:20:00UTC+00Crude Oil Steady Near $45

Crude oil futures were stuck below $45 a barrel Friday morning amid speculation that Libya and Nigeria are ramping up production.

Canadian oil sands are also getting back to normal after a devastating wildfire in Alberta earlier this year.

Traders will be paying attention today when Baker Hughes releases its report on U.S. rig counts. American producers are re-opening facilities shut down when oil prices collapsed near $25.

Meanwhile, U.K. private sector activity contracted at the steepest pace since early 2009 after the "Brexit vote", the results of the flash survey by Markit showed.

The flash composite output index fell to an 87-month low of 47.7 in July from 52.4 in June. A score below 50 indicates contraction.

WTI light sweet crude was flat at $44.71 a barrel on the NYMEX.

EIA data showing another drop in U.S. inventories put a floor under oil prices this week.