Investing.com - Oil was higher Tuesday on expectations of an output freeze as earlier profit-taking ran its course.
Brent crude was up 20 cents, or 0.41%, at $48.55 at 06:45 ET. U.S. crude was 0.48 %, at $45.96.
Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Monday Russia was consulting with Saudi Arabia on possible curbs on output.
OPEC members are due to hold informal talks at a meeting slated for next month.
Talks earlier this year on curbing output failed to prosper.
American Petroleum Institute U.S. stockpile data are due out later Tuesday.
Official Energy Information Administration figures are due for release on Wednesday.
The EIA is forecast to report a fall of 333,000 barrels in U.S. crude stocks in the latest week.
The U.S. dollar index was down 0.8%. A lower dollar lends support to the oil market.