By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices were steady on Wednesday as the escalating war between major oil producer Russia and Ukraine offset a rise in U.S. crude and gasoline stocks. Brent crude futures for January were down 4 cents, or 0.05%, at $73.27 a barrel by 10:43 a.m. EDT (1543 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for December, due to expire on Wednesday, were up

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