Oil fell nearly 1 percent on Thursday, but held near 2019 highs, supported by a tightening of global stocks, OPEC production cuts and U.S. sanctions on key producers Iran and Venezuela. Brent crude futures fell 56 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $67.94 a barrel by 12:29 p.m. EDT (16:29 GMT). U.S. crude fell 32 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $59.91 a barrel after earlier hitting its highest since Nov. 12 at $60.33. “The market is getting a little hesitant up at these levels,” said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. Absent news events, the market will pull back, he said. As a result, Friday’s U.S. oil rig count will be closely watched as a forward-looking production indicator, he said. U.S. energy […]