Undermined by statements by the US Secretary of Energy, who postponed crude purchases to at least next year to replenish America's strategic reserves, oil prices ended a series of three sessions on Thursday Positives in a row.

The price of a barrel of North Sea Brent for delivery in May fell 1.01% to close at $75.91. For its part, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell by 1.32% to 69.96 dollars. Supported by the technical momentum generated since the beginning of the week, prices started the session in a green way. According to Phil Flynn, Price Futures Group, the market turned back “because Energy Secretary (Jennifer) Granholm said it was unlikely that purchases related to SPRs (strategic reserves) would be completed this year.”