LONDON—Oil prices eased on Thursday as traders warily watched for signs of progress on talks to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, after surging in the previous session on optimism over U.S. fuel demand.
Brent crude futures dipped 37 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $76.59 a barrel as of 0841 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $72.49 a barrel.
A sharp plunge in U.S. gasoline inventories due to demand surging to the highest levels since 2021, and optimism surrounding negotiations over the U.S. debt ceiling, helped the main crude benchmarks settle more than $2 higher on Wednesday.
The U.S. dollar held near a seven-week peak on Thursday, making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies….