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Oil prices climb as revised IEA outlook signals tighter market

Oil prices rose on Thursday to settle at fourmonth highs as the International Energy Firm predicted a tighter market in 2024 and raised its view on oil demand growth this year.

Brent petroleum futures for May climbed $1.39, or 1.7%, to settle at $85.42 a barrel, the highest close since Nov. 6.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for April increased $ 1.54, or 1.9%, to end at $81.26, also its greatest considering that early November.

Both standards had chalked up gains near 3% on Wednesday.

The IEA raised its view on 2024 oil need development for a. fourth time given that November as Houthi attacks interfere with Red Sea. shipping but warned that the international economic slowdown serves as. an extra headwind to oil use.

The energy guard dog forecast demand will rise by 1.3 million. barrels each day in 2024, up 110,000 bpd from last month, however. still lower than growth of 2.3 million bpd last year.

The IEA also cut its 2024 supply forecast and now expects. oil supply to increase by 800,000 bpd to 102.9 million bpd this. year.

Need is staying high, while materials are getting tighter,. particularly on the fuel side. The refining margins are likewise. extremely strong and a favorable for unrefined need, said Dennis. Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

The 3-2-1 crack spread, a proxy for refining margins, rose. to their greatest because mid-September on Wednesday, incentivising. more crude processing.

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refining. facilities continued for a second day on Wednesday, targeting. four large oil refineries.

Russia's energy ministry stated Russia's seaborne fuel exports. fell 1.5% from the previous month in February since of. refinery downtime stemming from Ukrainian drone attacks and. fires.

The damage to refineries might cut Russian fuel. production by more than 10%, stated Kissler.

Meanwhile in the U.S., crude and gas stocks. plunged last week, federal government data showed on Wednesday, with. dramatically higher pump rates expected in the coming weeks as major. refinery failures have cut products ahead of the summertime driving. season.

U.S. manufacturer prices rose 0.6% in February, partly since. gasoline prices increased by more than projections for a 0.3%. advance.

Traders now see a 63.5% possibility of the Federal Reserve. cutting rates in June, according to the CME FedWatch tool, down. from 67% prior to the information. Lower rates of interest cut customer. obtaining expenses, which can boost financial growth and need for. oil.

Near-term development in international oil and liquids production will. be driven primarily by the United States, Guyana, Canada and. Brazil, balancing out voluntary production cuts by OPEC+, the U.S. Energy Info Firm forecast on Thursday.

(source: Reuters)