Oil prices were little changed on Thursday, with investors weighing firm winter fuel demand expectations against large builds of fuel inventories in the U.S., the world's biggest oil user, and macroeconomic concerns.

Oil futures ticked higher early Thursday, steadying after setting back the previous session following data that showed a rise in product inventories that offset a fall in crude supplies.

The prices of crude oil have retreated some gains since they hit multi-week highs after trading a peak of $75.26 to currently around $73.45. On, U.S. crude oil inventories had stayed in their