Crude oil futures ended flat on Thursday after hitting a multi-week high a day earlier as the threat to US Gulf crude production from Hurricane Nicholas receded. Traders remained cautious on concerns over China's decision to release some crude oil from its strategic petroleum reserve. China said last week that it plans to release oil from its strategic reserve in order to better stabilize domestic market supply and demand, and effectively guarantee the country's energy security.
Crude oil futures unchanged to settle at $72.61 barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. November Brent crude rose 21 cents or 0.3 percent to settle at $ 75.67 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.