Oil prices down

Singapore
Oil prices fell in Asia Thursday after a mixed US energy report showed a healthy decline in crude stockpiles but a rise in output that could aggravate the global supply glut.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery fell 21 cents to $44.94 while Brent crude for September eased seven cents to $49.52 in afternoon trade.
The US Department of Energy said Wednesday crude stockpiles in the world´s top consumer slid 4.4 million barrels in the week through July 31, indicating robust demand.
But it also showed US production rising by 52,000 barrels per day to 9.5 million barrels per day, rebounding from the previous week´s dip.
"Crude prices continued to remain weak with focus on oversupply," said Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at business consultancy firm EY.