fundamental News - OIL
Oil prices closed higher for the third consecutive day on Wednesday
after U.S. crude stocks supply fell to their lowest levels in three
years as refining activity recovered from recent storms.
Despite recent wobbles from U.S. economic figures, overall demand
for fuel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Product supplied over the
last four weeks has come in at nearly 21 million barrels per day, not
far from 2019's peak.
U.S. crude inventories last week fell by 3.5 million barrels to 414
million barrels, the lowest since October 2018, the U.S. Energy
Information Administration said on Wednesday.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $1.74, or
2.5%, to $72.23, while Brent crude futures settled up $1.83, or 2.5%, to
$76.19 a barrel.
Oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico continue to return to
production, with weekly output rising 500,000 bpd in the most recent
week to 10.6 million bpd, the EIA said. BP on Wednesday said all four of
its offshore facilities in the region have resumed
operations after Hurricane Ida, brought back online and producing as of
Sept. 12.
Also supporting prices has been difficulties by OPEC members
struggling to raise output. Rising prices in other markets like natural
gas have also supported oil, with energy market shortages causing a
supply crunch in Europe and Asia.
Iraq's oil minister said OPEC and its allies are working to keep
crude prices close to $70 per barrel as the global economy recovers,
state news agency INA reported on Wednesday.
The U.S. Federal Reserve, which began a two-day policy meeting on
Tuesday, signaled interest rate increases may follow more quickly than
expected. Tightening monetary policy could cut investor tolerance for
riskier assets such as oil.
Technical analysis
On the 4-hourly chart oil price is on the 10th bullish candlestick,
reflecting a buying sentiment. The July - September trendline at $73.00
is the target for the bull now.
Support is the 50-SMA at $71.29.
expectation today: bullishs
