By Alex Lawler

LONDON (Reuters) -Oil steadied on Thursday as a potential pause in U.S. interest rate hikes and the passing of a crucial vote on the U.S. debt ceiling bill were offset by a report of rising inventories in the world’s biggest oil consumer.

U.S. Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday suggested interest rates could be kept on hold this month and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill suspending the government’s debt ceiling, improving the chance of averting a disastrous default.

futures rose 2 cents to $72.62 a barrel by 0947 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) slipped 28 cents, or 0.4%, to $67.81. Both benchmarks fell on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Oil markets may have been oversold in the last two trading days,” said CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng. “Sentiment rebounded amid the debt bill’s passage in the House and (the) Fed’s rate hike pause signal.”

Mixed demand indications from China, the world’s biggest oil importer, have nonetheless weighed on the market, as has industry data showing a rise in inventories.

“The current mood is one of pessimism,” said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. “Investors have been pragmatic and risk averse of late.”

Market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday said that U.S. crude inventories rose by about 5.2 million barrels last week. Government stocks data is due at 1430 GMT on Thursday. [EIA/S]

Also in focus is the June 4 meeting of the OPEC+ producer group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia after mixed signals on whether further production cuts are likely.