Oil prices gained around $1 on Thursday as investor sentiment rose on news that China is considering a cut in the duration of quarantine for inbound visitors.
Brent crude futures for December settlement rose 80 cents, or 0.9%, to $93.21 a barrel at 0610 GMT.
US West Texas Intermediate crude for November delivery (WTI), which expires on Thursday, rose $1.29, or 1.5%, to $86.84 per barrel. The WTI contract for December delivery was last up 1.4%, or $1.16 cents, at $85.68 a barrel.
"The market is bouncing on that quarantine news and by extension a flickering light at the end of the zero-Covid policy tunnel," said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, adding that this is "the first positive sign we have seen out of China on the Covid front."
China, the world's largest crude importer, has stuck to strict COVID-19 curbs this year, weighing heavily on business and economic activity which lowers demand for fuel.
Bloomberg news reported on Thursday that China is considering cutting the quarantine period for inbound visitors to seven days from 10 days, citing people familiar with the matter.
According to Reuters, the report said officials are targeting a cut in the quarantine period to two days in a hotel and then five days at home, but there is no clarity yet on how the new restrictions would apply to foreigners and other visitors without a residence in China.
Innes, however, cautioned that China's zero-Covid policy is likely to stay in place "at least through Q1" next year, and maintains a bullish view on oil.
"Short of an unlikely shale oil revival, there are few lasting policy measures the Biden administration can use to effective push oil much lower."
Oil prices have seen support from a looming European Union ban on Russian crude and oil products, as well as the output cut from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia, known as OPEC+.
