Oil prices varied during trading on Wednesday, with the release of US inventory data amid expectations of a decrease, and amid following up on the latest developments in the Corona pandemic and the new mutation (Omicron).

The data of the American Petroleum Institute revealed today, that oil stocks fell by 3.1 million barrels for the week ending on December 24.

The weekly report of the American Institute revealed that gasoline stocks fell by 319,000 barrels last week, and distillates stocks fell by 716,000 barrels.

The US Energy Information Administration will announce later today official stockpile data, amid expectations that crude stocks will fall by 2.7 million barrels.

In today's trading, Brent crude futures for February delivery rose 0.2% to $79.11 a barrel.

As for the prices of US NYMEX crude contracts for February delivery, they settled today at the level of $76.03 a barrel.