Oil prices recovered slightly after sharp losses a day earlier on signs of weak energy demand in the US. Brent crude rose 31 cents to $72.70 a barrel, while US crude climbed 43 cents to $71.10.
Oil prices had skidded yesterday - the sixth session in a row in which they had dropped - after official data showed a bigger than expected rise in US stockpiles of refined fuel, which renewed concerns about slack energy demand in the world's biggest economy.
Market sentiment was hit by the US Department of Energy's (DoE) latest weekly report on petroleum stockpiles, showing an unexpected rise in distillate stocks, by 1.6 million barrels in the week ended December 4, instead of a drop of 500,000 barrels forecast by most analysts.
Distillates include heating fuel, which usually sees rising demand at this time of year amid the start of northern hemisphere winter weather.
