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Oil steadies on U.S. unrefined stock drawdown, OPEC+ output hikes hold-up

Oil rates edged up in early trading on Friday as financiers weighed a huge withdrawal from U.S. crude stocks and a hold-up to production hikes by OPEC+ producers versus mixed U.S. employment data.

Brent unrefined futures rose 19 cents, or 0.26%, to $ 72.88 at 0010 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 22 cents, or 0.32%, to $69.37.

Crude oil edged greater as bullish signals offset the bearish belief that has actually gripped the market in current days, ANZ expert Daniel Hynes said, including that a weaker dollar was also supporting products costs.

Brent settled 1 cent at its lowest close given that June 2023 on Thursday and WTI was down 5 cents to the most affordable close since December 2023 after information revealed that U.S. crude stockpiles was up to a 1 year low last week.

Unrefined stockpiles fell by 6.9 million barrels to 418.3 million barrels last week compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters survey for a 993,000-barrel draw.

Also raising rates, OPEC+ consented to delay a prepared oil production increase for October and November, the manufacturers group said on Thursday, adding that it could further pause or reverse the walkings if required.

The current U.S. economic information used some relief about the health of the economy to a market trying to find ideas about the path of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

U.S. services sector activity was stable in August, however employment gains slowed, staying consistent with an easing labor market.

The blended signals from job market indicators weighed on the dollar, which drooped near a one-week low ahead of vital monthly payrolls data due in the future Friday.

A weaker dollar makes oil less expensive for purchasers using other currencies.

(source: Reuters)