Latest News

Oil edges up from two-week lows as financiers wait for United States inventory information

Oil costs edged higher on Thursday from twoweek lows, with investors considering developments in the Middle East and more details on China's stimulus plans, as well as waiting for the release of official U.S. oil stock information.

Brent crude futures increased 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $ 74.39 a barrel by 0408 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $70.58 a barrel, up 19 cents, or 0.3%.

Both criteria settled down on Wednesday, closing at their most affordable levels given that Oct. 2 for a 2nd day in a row.

The benchmarks are down 6-7% up until now today after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Energy Company cut need projections for 2024 and 2025.

Rates have also fallen as risk premiums have cooled with fears having actually reduced that a retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran might interfere with oil materials, though uncertainty stays over conflict in the Middle East.

We are now playing a waiting game for 2 things. Firstly the China NPC (National People's Congress) standing committee to flesh out the details and the size of the fiscal stimulus bundle which I think is coming, Tony Sycamore, IG market expert in Sydney, said.

Investors are awaiting further information from Beijing on its broad plans revealed on Oct. 12 to restore its ailing economy.

China said on Thursday it would broaden a white list of housing projects qualified for funding and boost bank providing for such advancements to 4 trillion yuan ($ 562 billion). as it intends to support its ailing property market.

Sycamore said Israel's reaction to Iran's recent attack was. the second significant focus for the marketplace.

It's coming, we know that but we do not understand when, he stated,. adding that both aspects produced upside dangers for petroleum. prices.

In Iran, the authorities are working to control an oil spill. off Kharg Island, the nation's IRNA news firm reported on. Wednesday.

It appears to be unassociated to the Israel-Hamas war, but it. accentuated Iran's oil export centers, ANZ analysts. said in a note.

In the U.S., crude oil and fuel stocks fell last week,. market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures. on Wednesday, versus expectations of a build-up in crude. stockpiles.

Unrefined stocks fell by 1.58 million barrels in the week ended. Oct. 11, the sources said on condition of privacy. Gas. stocks fell by 5.93 million barrels, and distillate stocks. fell by 2.67 million barrels, they said.

Ten experts surveyed had approximated on average that. unrefined inventories increased by about 1.8 million barrels in the week. to Oct. 11.

Any signs of weak need in EIA's weekly stock report. might put further down pressure on oil costs, ANZ experts. said.

The Energy Info Administration, the statistical arm. of the U.S. Department of Energy, will release its data at 11:00. a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday.

Also supporting oil prices, the European Reserve Bank is. likely to lower rates of interest again on Thursday, the first. back-to-back rate cut in 13 years, as it moves focus from. cooling inflation in the euro zone to safeguarding financial. development.

(source: Reuters)