NEW YORK, Oct 4 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures edged lower in choppy trading Monday, consolidating after prices surged more than 6 percent last week while an encouraging Chinese GDP forecast, a French port strike and a shut Houston Ship Channel limited losses, trading sources said. Investors said the market was taking a breather early on Monday to consolidate after last week's 6.65 percent rise, the best weekly gain in nearly 7-1/2 months, rising 2 percent on Friday as the dollar slumped and China posted strong economic data. FUNDAMENTALS * On the New York Mercantile Exchange, November crude CLX0 fell 11 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $81.47 a barrel at 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT), trading from $80.77 to $81.87. * China's gross domestic product is forecast to rise 9.5 percent in 2010, accelerating from 9.1 percent in 2009, state television reported on Sunday. [ID:nTOE69200L] * A strike at France's top oil port entered its eighth day on Monday, blocking dozens of oil tankers, trimming output at some refineries and boosting gasoline prices. [ID:nLDE6930CN] * The Houston Ship Channel may be closed for three days after a barge struck a electrical tower on Sunday, downing a power line, the U.S. Coast Guard said. [ID:nN03278832] * Qatar has notified at least two Asian buyers that it will supply its Marine crude at full contracted volumes for November, flat to October levels, trade sources with knowledge of the matter said. [ID:nTOE69300T] MARKETS * The dollar rose, recovering earlier losses as traders cut bets the currency will weaken, which have been piling up on speculation the Federal Reserve may further ease U.S. monetary policy. [USD/] * U.S. stock index futures were lower after a Swiss plan to tighten banking rules raised fears of smaller bank profits ahead of a new round of U.S. data. [.N] * Equity markets in developed countries fell across the board as investors remained wary of an economic slowdown, while stocks in emerging market economies rose. [MKTS/GLOB] * Gold firmed, supported near record highs as investors continued to worry about the outlook for the dollar. [GOL/] * Copper steadied, after touching a more than two-year peak in the previous session, as traders weighed a recovery in the dollar and an increase in inventories against tightening supply-demand balances. [MET/] UPCOMING EVENTS/DATA * U.S. Commerce Department releases August factory orders. 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT). Economists in a Reuters survey forecast a fall of 0.4 percent following July's increase of 0.1 percent. 8:52 LAST NET PCT LOW HIGH CURRENT DAY AGO CHNG CHNG VOL VOL CLc1 81.47 -0.11 -0.1% 80.77 81.87 39,031 418,628 CLc2 82.33 -0.17 -0.2% 81.70 82.71 18,865 195,218 LCOc1 83.68 -0.07 -0.1% 82.90 84.08 46,868 153,491 RBc1 2.0908 0.0047 0.2% 2.0759 2.1023 5,421 6,912 RBc2 2.0841 -0.0023 -0.1% 2.0725 2.1000 5,201 55,719 HOc1 2.2936 -0.0002 0.0% 2.2743 2.3032 2,964 10,511 HOc2 2.3073 -0.0026 -0.1% 2.2896 2.3175 1,815 65,547 * NYMEX crude oil for November CLc1 fell 11 cents to $81.47 a barrel by 8:52 a.m. in volume of 39,032 lots. (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by John Picinich)

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