Oil holds steady Monday

Crude oil prices held near $96 per barrel Monday after government data showed China's demand for oil fell in August to a 22-month low. Equity markets also provided for uncertainty with markets mostly flat in Asia and Europe. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate crude oil for October delivery lost 39 cents to $96.15 per barrel. Natural gas gained 1.6 cents to $2.828 per million British thermal units. Home heating oil lost 0.92 cents to $3.1576 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline lost 0.14 cents to $3.0226 per gallon. At the pump, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.828 per gallon Monday, up from Sunday's $3.825, AAA reported.