Oil prices climbed for the first time in three days on Thursday, with supply worries resurfacing after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a reversal of a license given to Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab to operate in Venezuela.
Brent crude oil futures rose 24 cents or 0.33% to $72.77 a barrel by 0328 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were up 18 cents or 0.26% at $68.80 per barrel.
A day earlier, the contracts settled at their lowest since December 10 due to a surprise build in U.S. fuel inventories that hinted at weakening demand and hopes for a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Both benchmarks have lost about 5% so far this month. Trump on Wednesday said he was reversing a license given to Chevron to operate in Venezuela by his predecessor Joe Biden more than two years ago.
Chevron exports about 240,000 barrels per day of crude from its Venezuela operations, over a quarter of the country’s entire oil output. Ending the license means Chevron will no longer be able to export Venezuelan crude.
