Oil prices fell from the highest level since February which it reached in Wednesday's trading session, dragged by continued market concerns over demand that could be affected by the pandemic.
Earlier, the black commodity trade gained support from weekly inventory data readings showing a significant decline in crude oil inventory and an increase in factory production.
However, prices fell again due to concerns that again plagued the crude oil market over rising cases of coronavirus worldwide.
In the Asian session, the two benchmarks of crude oil traded flat, with the US WTI slightly changing at $ 52.94 a barrel, while Brent crude traded around $ 56 a barrel.
China recorded the largest daily spike in coronavirus cases in more than five months, causing the Hebei provincial capital to be subject to movement restrictions.
Meanwhile, governments across Europe have announced stricter sanctions and extended it to avoid the rapidly spreading new variant of Covid and vaccinations are expected to be unhelpful for another two to three months.
