Uncertainty around US avoiding a debt default impacted oil prices in early Asian trading on Thursday, outweighing the prospect of further OPEC+ cuts. Brent crude slipped 0.1% to $78.31 a barrel, with US West Texas Intermediate crude down 0.2% at $74.18. News that Britain's high inflation rate fell by less than expected in April, a warning from Saudi Arabia's energy minister to oil price short-sellers to "watch out", and a massive fall in US crude oil inventories supported oil prices in the previous session.