* U.S. crude stockpiles jump 6.5 mln bbl -API
* Coming up: China Feb trade data; EIA report, 1530 GMT
By Alejandro Barbajosa
SINGAPORE, March 10 (Reuters) - Oil fell for a second day
on Wednesday after an industry report showed U.S. crude
stockpiles jumped more than expected last week, dampening hopes
of a strong recovery of demand in the world's top user.
Markets awaited further signals on consumption from China,
the world's second-largest oil user, whose February trade data
for February is to be published on Wednesday. [ID:nTOE62901H]
World stocks fell slightly on Tuesday, but hovered just shy
of six-week highs, and a rising yen signaled some investors are
growing more risk averse.
"The market has been strong on the belief that the economy
is slowly getting better, but it's probably gone too far," said
Tony Nunan, a risk manager with Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Corp.
U.S. crude for April delivery <CLc1> fell 22 cents to
$81.27 by 0328 GMT, after touching $82.41 on Monday, the
highest level since prices jumped to a 15-month high of $83.95
on Jan. 11. London ICE Brent for April fell 14 cents to $79.77.
U.S. crude inventories rose by 6.5 million barrels in the
week to March 5, against analysts' forecasts for an increase of
1.9 million barrels, the industry-funded American Petroleum
Institute (API) said on Tuesday. [ID:nN09101093]
Government inventory data will follow on Wednesday at 1530
GMT, when the Energy Information Administration publishes its
weekly report.
The API also said U.S. gasoline stockpiles fell 3.2 million
barrels, after a Reuters poll of analysts forecast a gain of
200,000 barrels.
"The crude market seems to have been driven by gasoline on
the way up," Mitsubishi's Nunan said. "It's a seasonal thing;
as we go into spring, there is usually a gasoline-driven
rally."
But gasoline prices fell on Tuesday, when RBOB gasoline
futures led the oil complex lower.
"Maybe gasoline is getting overdone because demand in the
U.S. is not great and inventories are still high," Nunan said.
Inventories of distillates -- which includes diesel and
heating oil -- showed a 2.8 million barrel draw, compared with
forecasts for a 900,000 barrel draw.
China's exports were expected to have grown strongly in
year-on-year terms thanks to the dual effect of a low
comparison base and stronger demand as the global economy
recovers.
(Editing by Clarence Fernandez)