SINGAPORE -Oil prices drifted lower on Thursday after a surprise jump in U.S. gasoline inventories, with investors focusing on this weekend's OPEC+ meeting to discuss oil output policy.futures fell by 20 cents, or 0.27%, to $72.63 per barrel by 0717 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 21 cents, or 0.29%, at $68.52 a barrel.Oil is likely to retain its near-term bearish momentum as the risks of supply disruption fade in the Middle East and U.S.
OPEC+, which pumps about half the world's oil, will meet on Sunday. Two sources from the producer group told Reuters on Tuesday that members have been discussing a further delay to a planned oil output hike due to have started in January. Brent and WTI have lost more than 3% each so far this week, under pressure from Israel's agreement to a ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group. The ceasefire started on Wednesday and helped ease concerns that the conflict could disrupt oil supplies from the Middle East region.