Oil edged higher following a short run of declines as traders readied for weekly stockpile data in the US and Washington continues to push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the Middle East late Tuesday without a cease-fire agreement, but reiterated that Israel had agreed to a “bridging” deal to create space for the two sides to hammer out details.
API
Crude +347k (-2.9mm exp)
Cushing -648k
Gasoline -1.04mm
Distillates -2.24mm
DOE
Crude (-2.9mm exp)
Cushing -648k
Gasoline -1.04mm
Distillates -2.24mm
Refuting API's reported small crude build, the official data showed across the board inventory drawdowns last week with crude stockpiles down for the 7th week in the last 8 and distillates stocks falling by the most since March...
Source: Bloomberg
The Biden admin continues to add (marginally) to the SPR (+636k barrels last week)...
Source: Bloomberg
US crude production increased back to record highs (as rig counts continued to slide)...
Source: Bloomberg
Total US Crude inventories fell to their lowest since February...
Source: Bloomberg
WTI extended its (modest) gains after the official data...
Source: Bloomberg
Crude has given up most of its gains this year as China’s lackluster economy overshadowed OPEC+ supply cutbacks.
Investors are also watching US economic data and await Powell's speech on Friday at Jackson Hole hoping that lower inflation could lead the the Fed to cut rates — a boon to wider energy demand.