India, July 31 -- Oil prices were slightly lower on Thursday after three days of gains. Benchmark Brent crude futures fell half a percent to $72.13 a barrel in European trade, while WTI crude futures were down 0.3 percent at $69.76. Both benchmarks rose around 1 percent on Wednesday.
A surprise build in U.S. crude stocks weighed on prices. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration for the week ending July 25 revealed that crude oil inventories in the U.S. rose by 7.698 million barrels.
Traders were also reacting to a flurry of trade and tariff-related announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump on the eve of his Friday deadline.
These include Trump's trade deal with South Korea, his announcement of a 25 percent tariff on al...