Pump jacks operate at sunset in an oil field in Midland, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018.
REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File PhotoSummary China mulls cutting quarantine time for visitors - reportLooming EU ban on Russian oil, OPEC+ cuts supportiveU.S. oil reserve sales plan fails to dampen pricesNEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Thursday on news China is considering easing COVID-19 quarantine measures for visitors, boosting hopes for increased energy demand in the world's top oil importer.
Brent crude futures rose 6 cents to $92.47 a barrel by 12:58 p.m. EDT (1658 GMT).
China, the world's largest crude importer, has stuck to strict COVID curbs this year, which weighed heavily on business and economic activity, lowering demand for fuel.
The announcement, however failed to ease oil prices, as official U.S. data showed that the SPR last week dropped to their lowest since mid-1984, while commercial oil stocks fell unexpectedly.