2015.01.0804:06:59UTC+00Oil breaks four-day drop, U.S. stockpile data supports

 Data showing the U.S. economy remained resilient amid slowing global growth helped bolster oil, which was also supported by Chinese crude imports likely hitting a record high in December.

Brent crude marked an intraday high of $51.91 a barrel and was at $51.30 by 0543 GMT, up 15 cents. U.S. crude had risen 25 cents to $48.90 after touching a peak of $49.65.

But pressure on prices that have jumped more than half since June highs remains strong, with key producers such as OPEC and Russia showing no signs of cutting output despite a supply glut and as major economies in Europe and Asia struggle with slowing growth.

U.S. crude inventories fell 3.1 million barrels compared with analyst expectations for an increase of 880,000 barrels, data from the Energy Information Administration showed on Wednesday.

The data also showed gasoline and distillate fuel stocks soared by the most ever last week, rising more than 19 million barrels as a global crude oil surplus begins to translate into swelling fuel inventories.