As Economic Worries Competed With A Tighter Supply Outlook For Later In The Year, Oil Prices Remained Steady On Wednesday Despite A Surprise Rise In U.S. Crude Inventories. In The Futures Market, Brent Crude Rose 2 Cents, Or 0.7 Per Cent, To $74.42 A Barrel. The West Texas Intermediate U.S. Crude Oil Price Fell 5 Cents To $70.81 At 0921 Gmt. The International Energy Agency On Tuesday Predicted Demand Would Outpace Supply By 2mn Bpd In The Second Half Of The Year, With China Making Up 60 Percent Of Oil Demand Growth In 2023. According To Market Sources Citing American Petroleum Institute Figures, U.S. Crude Stockpiles Rose By About 3.6 Million Barrels In The Week Ended May 12.