Oil prices slipped for a fourth day on Wednesday on worries about rocky demand in Europe, even as hopes of a recovery in U.S. refinery activity were boosted by industry data that showed U.S. crude stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 5 cents to US$64.75 a barrel at 0229 GMT, after climbing as much as 28 cents in early trade.Brent crude futures fell 10 cents, or 0.2per cent, to US$68.29 a barrel, after initially gaining as much as 23 cents. "Concerns that demand could fall further have been rising as Europe's health ministers suspend the rollout of AstraZeneca vaccine amid health concerns," ANZ Research said in a note.
"The market was wrong-footed but still pleasantly surprised after U.S. oil stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi.