Oil prices fall as market weighs mixed supply signals | Reuters

Oil prices fall as market weighs mixed supply signals | Reuters

Oil prices slipped on Thursday in thin trade ahead of a public holiday, as traders weighed a larger-than-expected build in U.S. oil stocks against tightening global supply.

Brent futures were down $1.52, or 1.4%, at $107.26 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were off $1.38 or 1.3%, at $102.87 a barrel at 1220 GMT.

Both contracts on Wednesday had shrugged off a build in U.S. crude inventories to end the trading session over 4% higher.

"The market was less active than usual, due to the long weekend in Europe, America and most of Asia, with the reduction in the number of active buyers also contributing to the easing in prices," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades, citing the U.S. stock build.