Oil climbs as data shows a decline in US stocks

Singapore — Brent crude oil futures rose above $60 a barrel for the first time in over a week on Wednesday after a data report showed a larger-than-expected drop in US crude inventories, but worries about a possible global recession capped gains.

Brent crude had gained 32c, or 0.5%, to $60.35 a barrel by 4.03am GMT, after settling 0.5% higher on Tuesday.

US crude was up 25c, or 0.45%, at $56.38 a barrel.

US crude oil stocks fell by 3.5-million barrels in the week to August 16, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed on Tuesday. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a fall of 1.9-million barrels.

“Crude prices should see support from a bullish API stockpile report that could signal the largest Cushing draw since February 2018, if the EIA validates it,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA in New York.

Inventory numbers from the government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) are due at 2.40pm GMT on Wednesday, and will be more closely watched than usual given the nearing of the end of peak US driving season, analysts said.

“With Canadian heavy crude restrictions being extended, we should see US refiners … struggle to fill the void from lowered shipments from Mexico and Venezuela,” he said, referring to Canadian province of Alberta extending mandatory curtailments on crude production by an extra year.

Tensions in the Middle East remained in focus as US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that the US would take every action it can to prevent an Iranian tanker in the Mediterranean from delivering oil to Syria in contravention of US sanctions.

Oil prices were also buoyed by data showing lower exports in June from Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia plans to keep its crude exports below 7-million barrels a day in August and September despite strong demand from customers, to bring the market back to balance, a Saudi oil official told Reuters earlier in August.

But uncertainty over the global economic outlook amid the US-China trade war capped gains in the oil markets.

“The trade-related tug of war in the oil market will probably extend until we get some semblance of clarity from the next round of US-China trade discussion,” Stephen Innes, managing partner, VM Markets, said in a note.

Traders are also awaiting this week’s US central bank’s annual Jackson Hole seminar, where substantive comments from Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell are expected.

“The biggest risk to crude prices is if Powell disappoints at Jackson Hole and doesn’t signal more easing will be coming,” said OANDA’s Moya.

Reuters