Oil halted its advance near $45 a barrel as lower Chinese industrial profits signaled demand may be weakening in the world’s second-biggest consumer. West Texas Intermediate futures fell as much as 1.3 percent after climbing 2.3 percent last week. China’s industrial-company profits dropped 8.8 percent in August, the most in at least four years, while measures of its factory output and U.S. non-farm payrolls data are due later this week. Crude’s rally from a six-year low in August is sputtering on speculation a global glut will persist as Chinese economic growth slows and Iran prepares to boost exports should sanctions against the country be lifted. Oil rose the past two weeks as crude supplies in the U.S. fell while production slipped in six of the past seven weeks with low prices forcing drillers to idle rigs. “The focus has been on weak economic data from China today and apprehension […]