Oil climbs as surprise drop in U.S. crude stocks outweighs European vaccine woes

Oil climbs as surprise drop in U.S. crude stocks outweighs European vaccine woes

Via Reuters:

Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as investors weighed a recovery in U.S. refinery activity as industry data showed U.S. crude stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week against concerns of rocky demand in Europe.

Brent crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.5%, to $68.74 a barrel by 0641 GMT, after initially falling as much as 27 cents.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 43 cents, or 0.7%, to $65.21 after falling as much as 18 cents in early trade.

The price gains halted three straight sessions of declines for both benchmarks.

U.S. crude inventories fell by 1 million barrels in the week to March 12, according to trading sources citing data from the American Petroleum Institute. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected a build of 3 million barrels.

“The market was wrong-footed but still pleasantly surprised after U.S. oil stockpiles unexpectedly fell last week,” said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi.

At the same time, gasoline stocks fell less than expected, declining by 926,000 barrels, compared with estimates for a draw of 3 million barrels.

The narrower weekly draw in gasoline stocks signalled that refiner activity was normalising after a big freeze in Texas smothered production in the previous month, Innes said in a note.

The historic icy spell in the southern U.S. states knocked out nearly a quarter of the country’s refining capacity last month.

Traders will be looking for confirmation of the drawdown in crude stocks in official data due from the Energy Information Administration due on Wednesday.

Investors are also looking to the results of the U.S. central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which ends its two-day meeting on Wednesday, for indications on the direction of monetary policy.

Oil prices have been in a “directionless range trading over the past few sessions as oil markets also await the FOMC,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Brent was content to bounce around in a $67.50 to $70.00 a barrel range, with WTI anchored in a $64.00 to $66.00 a barrel range, Halley added.

The market has drifted lower over the past few days as more European countries pause inoculations of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines due to concerns over possible serious side effects, which could slow a recovery in fuel demand.

Trading in oil futures is now as heavy as it was in the first months of the COVID-19 crisis with oil bulls and bears rushing to hedge against jolts in prices.

While demand is growing in India and the United States, it remains weak in Europe, ANZ said in a research note, noting France’s road fuel consumption fell 10.8% in February from a year earlier, according to the country’s petroleum industry federation.

Click here to make a donation.

Click here to subscribe to The CRUSADE Channel’s Founders Pass Member Service.  www.crusadechannel.com/go

What Is The Crusade Channel?

The CRUSADE Channel, The Last LIVE! Radio Station Standing begins our LIVE programming with our all original CRUSADE Channel News hosted by Rod Staffard. Coupled with Mike “The King Dude” Church entertaining you during your morning drive and Rick Barrett giving you the news of the day and the narrative that will follow during your lunch break!

We’ve interviewed over 200 guests, seen Brother Andre Marie notch his 200th broadcast of Reconquest; the The Mike Church Show over 1200 episodes; launched an original LIVE! News Service; written and produced 4 Feature Length original dramas including The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes and set sail on the coolest radio product ever, the 5 Minute Mysteries series! We are the ONLY outlet to cover the Impeachment of President Trump from gavel to gavel!

Now that you have discovered The Crusade, get 30 days for FREE of our premium service just head to:

https://crusadechannel.com  OR download our FREE app: https://apps.appmachine.com/theveritasradionetworkappIti-

Did you know about crude stocks?If you are interested in supporting small business, be sure to check out the official store of the Crusade Channel, the Founders Tradin Post! Not to mention our amazing collection of DVD’s, Cigars, T-Shirts, bumper stickers and other unique selection of items selected by Mike Church!