Global benchmark Brent crude futures were trading up 45 cents, or 1.0 percent, at $45.99 per barrel at 0623 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 43 cents, or 1.0 percent, at $43.44 per barrel.

“Prices can go below $40 a barrel given the market is being dictated by sentiment and not fundamentals. There is nothing to stop it right now.”

Brent futures LCOc1 settled up 32 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $45.54 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) CLc1 ended up 27 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $43.01 per barrel.

On Wednesday, Brent LCOc1 was flat at $46.02 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures CLc1 added 4 cents to $43.55.

Средняя цена на нефть Urals за период мониторинга с 15 мая по 14 июня 2017 года составила $ 48,62068 за баррель, или $354,9 за тонну.

Prices have fallen more than 20 per cent from their levels in early January, which they last touched in the summer of 2015. A decline of more than 20 per cent from a most recent high is typically considered a bear market.

U.S. crude for July delivery lost 97 cents, or 2.2%, to $43.23 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, trading at prices it hasn't settled below since Aug. 10. A settlement at $43.56 a barrel or lower put oil into a bear market, which means it has lost 20% or more since the recent high, a nearly one-year high on Feb. 23.

Saudi Arabia effectively grew its recoverable oil resources by 73 billion barrels this year after lower tax rates for state producer Saudi Aramco boosted the country's estimated prospective resources.

Brent futures were up 4 cents at $46.95 at 0214 GMT. On Monday, they fell 46 cents, or 1 percent, to settle at $46.91 a barrel. That was their lowest since Nov. 29, the day before the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers agreed to cut output for six months from January. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 1 cent at $44.19 a barrel. They declined 54 cents, or 1.2 percent in the previous session, to settle at $44.20 per barrel, the lowest close since Nov. 14. The July contract will expire on Tuesday and August will become the front-month.

По словам главы Минэнерго России, для стабилизации нефтяного рынка необходимо, чтобы запасы упали до среднего уровня за пять лет: «Мы уверены, что это произойдет в течение ближайших кварталов, возможно к концу первого квартала 2018 года. Мы мониторим текущую текущую ситуацию. На данный момент нет необходимости предпринимать какие-то дополнительные действия».