Oil prices stabilized in early Asian trading, on Wednesday, as signs of weak demand growth in China conflicted with the possibility of a decline in US oil inventories.
Price movements
Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $83.62 a barrel by 00:10 GMT.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $80.65 per barrel.
Both benchmarks fell in the previous three sessions, with Brent crude futures recording at $83.30 yesterday, Tuesday, the lowest level since June 17.
Concerns about demand and the strength of the dollar offset signs of tight supplies in the United States.
Market sources said on Wednesday, citing data from the American Petroleum Institute, that US crude oil inventories fell by 4.4 million barrels in the week ending July 12.
Analysts polled by Reuters expected crude inventories to decline by 33,000 barrels.
The US Energy Information Administration will issue its official report on inventories at 14:30 GMT.
At the same time, rising geopolitical risks are helping to limit the decline in oil prices.
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