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Oil prices fall for a 2nd day as United States unrefined inventories increase

Oil prices fell for a. 2nd day on Wednesday after a report that unrefined stockpiles in. the U.S., the world's greatest oil user, rose and on indications. significant producers are unlikely to change their output policy at a. technical meeting next week.

Brent crude futures for May dropped 69 cents, or. 0.8%, to $85.56 a barrel at 0150 GMT. The May contract is set to. to end on Thursday and the more actively traded June contract. declined 60 cents, or 0.7%, at $85.03.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for. May shipment fell 55 cents, or 0.7%, at $81.07.

U.S. petroleum inventories rose by 9.3 million barrels in. the week ended March 22, according to market sources citing. American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Distillate. stocks also rose by 531,000 barrels.

Gas stocks nevertheless fell by 4.4 million barrels.

Official federal government data will be released on Wednesday at. 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT).

The Company of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and. allies led by Russia, also known as OPEC+, is not likely to make. any oil output policy modifications until a complete ministerial event. in June, three OPEC+ sources told ahead of a conference. next week.

The group will hold an online conference of its Joint. Ministerial Monitoring Committee on April 3 to evaluate the marketplace. and members' application of output cuts.

Previously this month, OPEC+ members consented to extend their. output cuts of about 2.2 million barrels per day to the end of. June.

Russia has actually bought companies to cut their output to comply. with the target, reported on Monday, and Iraq's oil. ministry said on March 18 it would decrease its exports to. make up for earlier over production exceeding its quota. limitations.

By announcing these curtailments, capability of the OPEC and. the wider OPEC+ to adhere to its cuts has been called into. question. OPEC exceeded its targets by 190,000 bpd in February,. according to a survey, with Iraq amongst the over. manufacturers.

Highlighting that Iraq is among the OPEC+ members that have. admitted to overproducing in current monts, analysts at ANZ said. in a report on Wednesday, traders are likewise viewing OPEC. members for any sign they might be altering their stance on. production quotas.

(source: Reuters)