Oil prices recover from sharp losses caused by U.S. stockpile surge

Oil prices ticked up on Thursday after sharp losses in the previous session, with investors hoping that a big build-up in U.S. inventories may mean producers have little option but to deepen output cuts as the coronavirus pandemic ravages demand.

With official data showing U.S. inventories surging the most on record, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell on Wednesday to its lowest since February 2002, with Brent losing more than 6%.