Prices remain well up on the lows of under $65 per barrel a fortnight earlier.
Light crude prices in New York were $76.70, down $0.24, per barrel in midday trading on Wednesday.
US prices were at a 2010 low of $64.24 per barrel in late May, having hit a recent peak of more than $87 per barrel earlier in that month.
In London, benchmark Brent crude was selling at $77.17,
