Crude oil prices softened on Thursday after a surprise build in U.S. inventory levels and on a firm dollar, although stronger equity markets helped support commodities. A respite from bearish economic news in China, closed for public holidays for the rest of the week, also helped stabilize oil prices that have seen volatile swings over the past two weeks. Brent was 20 cents lower at $50.30 a barrel by 0840 GMT, having gained 94 cents in the previous session. U.S. crude was just 5 cents lower at $46.20 a barrel, up from the day’s low of $45.65, after settling up 84 cents on Wednesday. Olivier Jakob, managing director of PetroMatrix, said the market was quietening down after the extreme moves, with public holidays in the world’s two largest oil […]