* Rising US oil inventories pressure prices * Dollar strength, equities slip, also pressure * COMING UP: EIA natgas storage data, 10:30 a.m. EDT NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices fell Thursday, pressured by weak European economic data a day after a government report showed rising U.S. oil inventories. A survey of purchasing managers showed growth in the euro zone slowed in September. [ID:nSLANKE6DL] U.S. oil demand stayed sluggish and crude oil stockpiles rose last week despite expectations that a shut pipeline carrying Canadian crude to the United States would curb imports, a report on Wednesday from the U.S. Energy Information Agency showed. [EIA/S] FUNDAMENTALS * On the New York Mercantile Exchange, November crude CLX0 fell 76 cents, or 1.0 percent, to $73.95 barrel at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), trading from $73.89 to $74.98. * The U.S. National Hurricane Center raised to 80 percent the chance that a tropical depression could form in the Caribbean Sea over the next 48 hours. [ID:nN23124636] * U.S. regulators on Wednesday approved a gradual restart of an Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO) oil pipeline that ruptured more than eight weeks ago, fouling a Michigan river system and squeezing oil supplies for U.S. and Canadian refiners. [ID:nN23276879] MARKETS NEWS * The euro fell as concerns mounted about European economic recovery, with the single currency coming off a five-month high hit against the dollar the previous day. [USD/] The dollar index .DXY was stronger. * U.S. stock index futures fell, pressured by weak economic data out of Europe and on expectations that U.S. weekly jobless claims data will show employment conditions are still under pressure. [.N] * World stocks slipped in wake of survey showing slowdown in growth in Euro zone's services and manufacturing sectors. [MKTS/GLOB] * Gold held near record highs as the threat of currency devaluation lifted interest in gold as a safe haven. [GOL/] UPCOMING EVENTS/DATA * The Labor Dept releases first-time claims for jobless benefits for the week ended Sept. 18 at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT). Economists surveyed by Reuters forecast 450,000 new filings which would match the prior week's number. * The Conference Board releases August leading economic indicators at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT). Economists projected a 0.1 percent rise, steady to July. * National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for August at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a 4.1 million annualized unit total versus 3.83 million in July. * The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports weekly U.S. natural gas inventories at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT). Analysts in a Reuters survey forecast a build of 80 billion cubic feet. 8:10 LAST NET PCT LOW HIGH CURRENT DAY AGO CHNG CHNG VOL VOL CLc1 73.95 -0.76 -1.0% 73.89 74.98 33,279 34,579 CLc2 75.48 -0.82 -1.1% 75.39 76.49 17,613 311,954 LCOc1 77.01 -0.94 -1.2% 76.87 77.98 53,671 157,455 RBc1 1.8809 -0.0205 -1.1% 1.8796 1.9061 1,228 35,771 RBc2 1.8788 -0.0225 -1.2% 1.8775 1.9049 2,020 39,220 HOc1 2.0860 -0.0210 -1.0% 2.0796 2.1117 1,588 32,184 HOc2 2.1034 -0.0216 -1.0% 2.0976 2.1286 2,596 42,010 * NYMEX crude oil for November CLc1 fell 76 cents to $73.95 a barrel by 8:10 a.m. in volume of 33,279 lots. (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by John Picinich)

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