SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday as investors focused on the signing of a preliminary trade deal between the United States and China, the world’s top oil consumers, and on expectations of a drawdown in U.S. crude oil inventories.

SHANGHAI, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The yuan strengthened past 6.88 per dollar early on Tuesday after the U.S. Treasury Department dropped its designation of China as a currency manipulator, days before Beijing and Washington are to sign a partial trade deal.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday as receding Middle East tensions took some heat out of the market, with both Tehran and Washington desisting from any further escalation after this month’s clashes.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian share markets rose on Tuesday and safe-haven assets slid as signs of goodwill between China and the United States supported optimism for global growth, with the world’s two biggest economies preparing to formalize a trade-war truce.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Oil prices held steady on Monday as fears of conflict between the United States and Iran eased, with investors shifting their focus to this week’s scheduled signing of an initial U.S.-China trade deal, which could boost economic growth and demand.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co’s (F.N) China vehicle sales fell for a third consecutive year, by 26.1%, as it battles a prolonged overall sales decline in its second-biggest market that has hit demand for its mass-market Ford brand and sports utility vehicles.