* Dollar stronger versus the euro, basket of currencies * EIA inventory report delayed to Friday NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures edged lower in seesaw trading on Wednesday, hemmed in by industry inventory data that showed a big crude oil stockpile rise and eyeing the dollar that was up versus the euro but had also seen choppy trading. "The API report was certainly bearish, almost too bearish. Traders are skeptical and will have to wait for DOE data delayed till Friday. The dollar is strengthening this morning, retracing some of yesterday's losses, capping petroleum markets," said Tom Bentz, senior commodity analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc in New York. The industry group American Petroleum Institute's inventory report on Tuesday showed crude oil stockpiles rose much more than expected last week, up 7.2 million barrels, despite a drop in both imports and runs. [API/S] Distillate stocks fell 1.5 million barrels and gasoline stocks rose 1.6 million barrels, according to the API. Because of snow delays in Washington, the U.S. Energy Information Administration has delayed its oil inventory and natural gas storage reports until Friday. [ID:nWAT014114] A Reuters survey of analysts yielded a forecast for crude inventories to be up 1.5 million barrels last week, distillate stocks down 1.9 million barrels and gasoline supplies up 500,000 barrels. [EIA/S] A weak economy and higher oil prices are expected to keep the EIA from increasing its estimate for U.S. oil demand in its new monthly forecast scheduled for release on Wednesday at noon EST (1700 GMT). The euro slipped against the U.S. dollar, surrendering earlier gains, amid uncertainty regarding the outcome of Thursday's European Union summit about a possible bailout of debt-strapped Greece. [USD/] The dollar also rose against the currency basket. [.DXY] PRICES * On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 9:55 a.m. EST (1455 GMT), March crude CLH0 was down 10 cents, or 0.14 percent, at $73.65 a barrel, trading from $73.18 to $74.30. * In London, March Brent crude LCOH0 fell 33 cents, or 0.46 percent, to $71.80 a barrel, trading from $71.49 to $72.48. * NYMEX March RBOB RBH0 fell 1.25 cents, or 0.65 percent, to $1.9165 a gallon, trading from $1.9132 to $1.9412. * NYMEX March heating oil HOH0 fell 0.37 cents, or 0.19 percent, to $1.9336 a gallon, trading from $1.9243 to $1.9486. * The March/March heating oil crack spread <0#CL-HO=R> was at $7.52, after ending at $7.62 on Tuesday. The March/March RBOB crack spread <0#RB-CL=R> was at $6.83, after ending at $7.27 on Tuesday. * The spread between the current front month and the five-year forward crude contract CLc61 was at $13.19, based on the March 2015 contract Tuesday settlement at $86.84. The spread ended Tuesday at $13.09. TECHNICALS NYMEX crude 10-day/20-day moving average: $73.91/$75.35 Technical support/resistance: NYMEX crude: $70.10/$75.00 NYMEX heating oil: $1.8435/$1.9105 NYMEX RBOB: $1.8570/$1.9774 For a full report on technicals, click on [ID:nLDE6191PX] MARKET NEWS * OPEC trimmed its 2010 global demand growth forecast by 10,000 barrels per day. [ID:nLDE6191O5] * The U.S. trade deficit widened unexpectedly in December to $40.2 billion dollars. [ID:nWAT014117] * The NYMEX said trading and the open outcry session hours of operation would not be affected by the snowstorm hitting the East. * For a list of U.S. refinery issues, click on [REF/US] (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; editing by Jim Marshall)

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