NYMEX-Crude holds near $105 on U.S. manufacturing data

U.S. crude futures held near $105 a barrel on Tuesday, after gaining sharply in the previous  session on better-than-expected manufacturing data from the U.S. and China, the world's two largest oil consumers.

The upbeat data offset disappointing economic numbers from Europe.

Oil prices were also supported by expected loading delays  for North Sea crude cargoes, which added to concerns about  global supply disruptions