* Dollar strengthens, curbing oil prices * China's crude oil imports drop in Oct * API data Tuesday shows crude stock drop, lifts oil * Coming up: EIA oil data at 10:30 a.m. EST Wednesday NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices edged up in seesaw trading on Wednesday amid news of a Chinese crude import drop and a stronger dollar after a big fall in U.S. crude oil inventories reported by industry. Ahead of the government's oil inventory report due on Wednesday, investors got the first snapshot from the American Petroleum Institute late on Tuesday that showed U.S. crude stocks fell 7.4 million barrels in the week to Nov. 5. [API/S] The API said gasoline stocks fell 3.4 million barrels and distillate stocks dropped by 4.0 million barrels. Ahead of the reports, U.S. crude inventories were forecast to have increased by 1.4 million barrels, a Reuters analyst survey showed. [EIA/S] Distillate stocks, including heating oil and diesel fuel, were expected to be down by 1.9 million barrels, with gasoline stocks falling 800,000 barrels. FUNDAMENTALS * On the New York Mercantile Exchange, December crude CLZ0 rose 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $86.77 a barrel by 8:17 a.m. EDT (1317 GMT), trading from $86.10 to $87.05. * China's October crude oil imports fell 15 percent from a year ago to their lowest in 19 months, as refiners drew on stocks after record purchases in September. [ID:nLDE6A90G3] MARKETS NEWS * World stocks and copper prices fell on Wednesday on concerns about softening demand from China after slower-than-expected import data, while the dollar recovered further and hit its highest level in two weeks. [MKTS/GLOB] * The euro slipped against the dollar, dragged lower by its losses versus sterling, which rallied after the Bank of England said inflation pressures would pick up further in the near term. [FRX/] * Gold rallied by 0.5 percent, after its choppiest trading session in six months the day before, as concerns about euro zone debt reignited safe-haven buying, while silver pared Tuesday's 3 percent drop. [GOL/] UPCOMING DATA/EVENTS * U.S. Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims and import/export prices data for October at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT) * U.S. Commerce Department releases international trade balance data for September at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT) * Canada international trade data for September at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT) * U.S. EIA oil inventory data due at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT). 8:17 LAST NET PCT LOW HIGH CURRENT DAY AGO CHNG CHNG VOL VOL CLc1 86.77 0.05 0.1% 86.10 87.05 47,962 309,966 CLc2 87.33 -0.03 0.0% 86.70 87.64 17,778 114,648 LCOc1 88.30 -0.02 0.0% 87.73 88.70 45,541 200,878 RBc1 2.1919 0.0069 0.3% 2.1754 2.1961 2,050 48,280 RBc2 2.1900 0.0035 0.2% 2.1751 2.1951 1,935 23,136 HOc1 2.4127 0.0060 0.3% 2.3999 2.4216 4,956 42,162 HOc2 2.4304 0.0041 0.2% 2.4177 2.4396 2,640 16,979 * NYMEX crude oil for December CLc1 rose 5 cents to $86.77 a barrel by 8:17 a.m. on volume of 47,962 lots.

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