As far as the longer-term outlook is concerned, oil looks neutral in a range of $66.29-$70.75, within which the consolidation has lasted for two weeks.
"Some expectations that negotiations between Iran and the United States may lead to a resumption of Iranian oil exports is limiting the upside of oil prices," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, general manager of research at Nissan Securities.
In the Middle East, Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group faced mounting international calls for a ceasefire in hostilities that entered their second week on Monday with no end in sight.
Asian markets were broadly down for a second day. Tokyo extended Tuesday's more than three percent plunge, while Taipei's tech-rich bourse tumbled more than two percent.
On the daily chart, the gain on Monday proved to be a short-lived bluff by bulls. Market sentiment looks mixed, while oil is consolidating around $68.43.