Oil mixed, investors sceptical about effectiveness of joint reserve release

TOKYO (Reuters) -Oil prices largely held gains Wednesday, with investors sceptical about the effectiveness of a U.S.-led coordinated release of stocks from strategic reserves and turning their focus to the next step by oil producers.

Brent crude futures slid 7 cents, or 0.1%, to $82.24 a barrel by 0432 GMT, having risen 3.3% on Tuesday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $78.60 a barrel, following a 2.3% gain in the previous day.

“Investors were disappointed by the small size of the joint oil release by the United States and other countries,” said