Crude Oil Flat With Economic Data Due

(Updated with recent futures price, stock quotes and information about China manufacturing)

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- With several economic reports on the horizon, oil futures were staying steady near $77 on Monday.

The front-month contract for benchmark crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange was trading just 2 cents higher at $77.02 a barrel recently. On Friday, the contract settled at $77 after plunging $2.87.

Early in the morning, the contract rose higher, with several reports citing better manufacturing numbers from China for the morning move. The HSBC China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose to its highest level of expansion in 18 months, to 55.4 in October.

Later on Monday morning, more economic data will come to the fore with the release of manufacturing, home sales and construction spending figures. On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will be issuing its statement on the economy and any decision on rate changes. On Friday, the Labor Department will issue its new unemployment rate for October.

Elsewhere in oil equity news, shares of Exxon Mobil(XOM Quote), which lost 3.1% on Friday, were gaining back 46 cents, or 0.6%, at $72.13 just after the open on Monday morning. Chevron(CVX Quote) shares were adding 32 cents at $76.86 after losing 1.8% in the Friday session.

**ConocoPhillips(COP Quote) and Marathon Oil(MRO Quote), too, were tracking higher, adding 0.6% each just after the opening bell.**

-- Written by Sung Moss in New York

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