Oil prices tick up as crude, gasoline inventories ease
Oil prices rose as U.S. crude and gasoline stocks fell, with Brent at $85.43 and WTI at $82.47. Influences include U.S. inflation data, Federal Reserve actions, Powell's comments, CPI and PPI reports, OPEC's forecast, Hurricane Beryl impact, economic growth, air travel, rate cut speculation, and interest rates affecting borrowing costs.
edged higher on Thursday as fell after U.S. refineries ramped up processing and as eased, signalling stronger demand.rose 35 cents, or 0.4% to $85.43 a barrel. (WTI) crude rose 36 cents, or 0.5%, to $82.47 a barrel.
U.S. fell by 3.4 million barrels to 445.1 million barrels in the week ended July 5, far exceeding analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.3 million-barrel draw.
fell by 2 million barrels to 229.7 million barrels, much bigger than the 600,000-barrel draw analysts expected during the U.S. Fourth of July holiday week.
The also stuck to its forecast for relatively strong growth in in 2024 and next year, saying on Wednesday that resilient economic growth and air travel would support fuel use in the summer months.
Gains were, however, capped as supply disruptions at refineries and offshore production facilities from hurricane Beryl were minimal.
Meanwhile, U.S. inflation data due this week include the Consumer Price Index on Thursday and the Producer Price Index report on Friday, both of which could set the tone for the market.
Expectations of a 25-basis-point rate cut by September ticked up to 74% from around 70% on Tuesday and 45% a month ago, according to CME's FedWatch.
Lower decrease the cost of borrowing, which can boost economic activity and oil demand.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank will make interest rate decisions "when and as" they are needed, pushing back on a suggestion that a September rate cut could be seen as a political act ahead of the fall presidential election.
