🐂 Not all bull runs are created equal. November’s AI picks include 5 stocks up +20% eachUnlock Stocks

Crude Oil Prices Hover at Multi-Week Highs

Published 03/21/2018, 04:37 AM
© Reuters.  Crude oil prices remain supported after U.S. stockpiles data
LCO
-
CL
-
NG
-
GPR
-

Investing.com - Crude oil prices were hovering at multi-week highs on Wednesday, as potential supply disruptions due to tensions in the Middle-East continued to support, as well as upbeat U.S. stockpile data.

The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude May contract was up 12 cents or about 0.19% at $63.66 a barrel by 04:35 a.m. ET (08:35 GMT), just off Tuesday's three-week highs of $63.98.

Elsewhere, Brent oil for May delivery on the ICE Futures Exchange in London added 11 cents or about 0.18% to $67.55 a barrel, after hitting a two-week peak of $67.88 in the previous session.

Oil prices were supported after the American Petroleum Institute reported on Tuesday that U.S. crude stocks fell by 2.7 million barrels in the week ended March 16, compared to expectations for an increase of 3.2 million.

The commodity was also boosted by speculation the U.S. could reimpose sanctions on Iran, as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in to Washington for a state visit.

But market participants were still awaiting official data on oil and gasoline stockpiles due later Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

High drilling activity has pushed U.S. crude oil production to rise to 10.38 million barrels per day (bpd), past top exporter Saudi Arabia.

Analysts and traders have warned that booming U.S. shale oil production could potentially derail the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' efforts to rein in a global supply glut and support prices.

OPEC agreed in December to cut oil output by 1.8 million bpd until the end of 2018. The agreement was due to end in March 2018, having already been extended once.

Elsewhere, gasoline futures fell 0.20% to $1.967 a gallon, while natural gas futures were little changed at $2.678 per million British thermal units.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.