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Oil falls as US reports surprise fuel construct, weak need

Oil prices succumbed to the 2nd consecutive session on Thursday, after the U.S. government reported weak fuel demand in the nation and a. surprise dive in gas and extract fuel stockpiles.

Brent unrefined futures fell by $1.74, or 2.1% to settle at. $ 81.86 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate unrefined futures. fell by $1.32, or 1.7%, to $77.91 a barrel.

U.S. crude stocks fell more than anticipated recently as. refiners ramped up to their greatest utilization rates in over. 9 months, data from the U.S. Energy Info. Administration showed. However, there was a surprise jump in. fuel and distillate fuel stocks as demand compromised even. as output rose.

Weakness in fuel markets have actually continued to drag down. the remainder of the oil complex, Alex Hodes, oil analyst at. brokerage StoneX, wrote on Thursday.

Experts had expected the U.S. Memorial Day holiday on May. 27, the start of the U.S. summer driving season, would enhance. fuel demand. Yet EIA's step of gasoline need slipped about. 2% from the previous week to 9.15 million barrels daily.

I was looking for a draw in fuel, in specific, ahead. of the holiday weekend however when refiners are cranking it out,. that is too much to drain item stocks, stated John. Kilduff, partner at Again Capital.

The gasoline need is still a good number, even though I. would have anticipated that to be up closer to 9.5 (million bpd). entering into the last holiday weekend, he said.

U.S. gasoline futures fell more than 2% to a 3-month. low of $2.40 a gallon, while ultra-low sulfur diesel futures. settled at an over 11 month low.

More pressuring oil costs, financiers' risk-appetite has. been suppressed by the possibility of delayed financial easing in the. U.S. and Europe, experts at financial brokerage ActivTrades. said. Fear trading is controling financial markets ahead of. Friday's U.S. consumer cost index data, they wrote to clients.

Oil investors are also careful ahead of an OPEC+ conference. this weekend. The manufacturer group will decide whether to extend,. deepen or loosen up supply cuts.

Soft fuel demand and increasing global oil inventories might help. encourage OPEC+ producers, that include the Organization of the. Petroleum Exporting Countries

(source: Reuters)