NEW YORK, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures edged down on Wednesday on continued concerns about slowing economic growth and debt problems in the United States and Europe, though a better-than-expected report on private sector hiring helped oil prices trim losses. The pace of U.S. private sector job growth slowed in July with employers adding 114,000 positions, but the jobs additions exceeded forecasts, a report by payrolls processor ADP showed. [ID:nN1E77208F] The report comes ahead of the key July nonfarm payrolls report from the U.S. government due on Friday. Wall Street equity futures added to their gains after the ADP reading on private sector employment came in stronger than expected. [.N] Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday confirmed its Aaa rating of the United States, citing the decision to raise the debt limit, but assigned a negative outlook that could pressure lawmakers to cut the U.S. deficit. [ID:nN1E77122H] A weaker dollar also supported oil. The dollar index .DXY was weaker, despite gains against the Swiss franc, as the greenback lost ground versus the euro. A weaker dollar can support dollar-denominated oil prices, making oil less expensive for consumers using other currencies and attracting investment into commodities markets seeking better returns. Late Tuesday, industry group American Petroleum Institute said U.S. crude inventories fell 3.3 million barrels last week, against a forecast rise. [API/S] Gasoline stocks jumped 2.5 million barrels and distillate stocks rose 1.4 million barrels, according to the API. U.S. crude stocks were expected to be up 900,000 barrels, according to a Reuters analyst survey ahead of the API report, with supplies from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve seen offsetting any losses related to Tropical Storm Don. [EIA/S] Gasoline stockpiles were projected to be up slightly, 100,000 barrels, while distillate stocks were expected to be up 1.5 million barrels. Government inventory statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration will follow on Wednesday. FUNDAMENTALS * On the New York Mercantile Exchange, September crude CLU1 fell 29 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $93.50 a barrel by 8:56 a.m. EDT (1256 GMT), trading from $92.77 to $93.60. * Japan's commercial crude inventories rose 7.8 percent last week, snapping a drop over the previous three weeks to their lowest in nearly 4 months, industry data showed, reflecting a fall in appetite for gasoline. [ID:nL3E7J30II] * Colonial Pipeline allocated Cycle 45 shipments on its Line 01, main gasoline line north of Collins, Mississippi, in a notice. [ID:nEMS0IMWVM] * Tropical Storm Emily remained poorly organized and no immediate threat to Gulf of Mexico energy infrastructure. [ID:nEMS0ILK92] MARKETS NEWS * Gold scaled a record peak as investors sought a safe haven amid widespread economic turmoil. [GOL/] * World stocks dropped on worries the economic slowdown would be prolonged. The euro rose against the dollar. [MKTS/GLOB] [USD/] UPCOMING DATA/EVENTS * U.S. factory orders data for June released at 10 a.m. EDT (14300 GMT) Wednesday. * U.S. Energy Information Administration oil inventory data, 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT), Wednesday. * U.S. Energy Information Administration natural gas storage data, 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT), Thursday. 8:56 LAST NET PCT LOW HIGH CURRENT DAY AGO CHNG CHNG VOL VOL CLc1 93.50 -0.29 -0.3% 92.77 93.60 46,686 398,857 CLc2 93.88 -0.32 -0.3% 93.16 93.98 7,642 83,863 LCOc1 115.42 -1.04 -0.9% 115.20 116.29 67,507 210,261 RBc1 3.0060 -0.0313 -1.0% 2.9914 3.0200 5,052 60,756 RBc2 2.8738 -0.0293 -1.0% 2.8611 2.8854 2,762 22,087 HOc1 3.0750 -0.0166 -0.5% 3.0641 3.0893 3,328 68,105 HOc2 3.0873 -0.0178 -0.6% 3.0775 3.1014 1,034 17,402 * NYMEX crude oil for September CLc1 fell 29 cents to $93.50 a barrel by 8:56 a.m. in volume of 46,686 lots. (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by John Picinich)

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