Brent steadies at $120

On track?: BPZ aiming to boost reserves

Steadying: Brent held at $120 after posting steep losses the previous session

Brent crude held at $120 on Wednesday, after posting steep losses in the previous session, as a cut in global oil consumption forecast by the EIA and an unexpected surge in US crude stocks reinforced fears demand growth may slow.

The cut by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) followed weak economic numbers from the two top oil consumers - China and the US - suggesting the global economy may be in more trouble than it appeared. These factors overshadowed concerns of supply disruption from the Middle East.

Brent traded 15 cents higher at $120.03 a barrel early on Wednesday, after settling $2.79 lower at its weakest since 17 February. The 2.27% slide was the biggest one-day percentage loss since 14 December. US oil slipped 10 cents to $100.92 a barrel, after…

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