Brent crude futures were at $71.06 a barrel at 0646 GMT, down 18 cents, or 0.3 per cent, from their last close.
Oil fell on Wednesday after data showed a surprise rise in US crude stockpiles and as Chinese industrial output grew less than expected in April, but prices were supported by mounting tensions in West Asia.
Brent crude futures were at $71.06 a barrel at 0646 GMT, down 18 cents, or 0.3 per cent, from their last close. Brent ended 1.4 per cent higher on Tuesday.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $61.33 per barrel, down 45 cents, or 0.7 per cent, from their previous settlement. WTI closed up 1.2 per cent in the previous session.
