Crude oil benchmarks opened the month combined on Wednesday, following their biggest-ever quarterly and month-to-month losses,  overshadowed by fears of world oversupply as knowledge confirmed a bigger-than-expected rise in inventories in the USA.

Brent crude was down by 21 cents, or 0.8%, at $26.14 a barrel by 0032 GMT, whereas U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up by 27 cents, or 1.3%, at $20.75 a barrel.

U.S. crude inventories rose by 10.5 million barrels final week, far exceeding forecasts for a four million barrel build-up, knowledge from trade group the American Petroleum Institute confirmed.

Wednesday's opening session left oil costs marooned close to their lowest ranges since 2002 amid the worldwide coronavirus disaster that has introduced worldwide financial slowdown and slashed oil demand. Crude futures ended the quarter down almost 70% after file losses in March.

The bearish temper out there wasn't improved by a rift throughout the Group of the Petroleum...