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Hormuz still disrupts shipping, despite lack of progress in US-Iran negotiations

The oil prices continued to rise 'on Thursday, despite the fact that 'peace talks' between Iran and the United States had stalled and both countries maintained their restrictions on trade flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures were up $1.37 or 1.3% to $103.28 per barrel at 0410 GMT after Wednesday's settlement above $100 was the first in over two weeks. West Texas Intermediate futures also rose $1.52 or 1.6% to $94.48.

The benchmarks for both closed Wednesday more than $3 higher after larger-than expected?gasoline stock withdrawals in the U.S. and the failure of the Iran peace talks.

In a recent note, ING analysts said that the oil market was repricing expectations with little progress being made in finding a solution in the Persian Gulf. They added that hope for a resolution is fading because peace talks are stalling.

The seizure of Iranian vessels that were attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz by Iran suggests that disruptions in shipments will continue.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a ceasefire after a request from Pakistani mediators. The strait is still closed to?ships, which used to carry about 20% of the daily oil supply in the world until the conflict began on February 28, 2018.

Iran has tightened its grip over the strategic chokepoint by seizing two ships on Wednesday. Trump has also maintained the U.S. Navy's blockade on Iran's maritime trade. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is also a top negotiator and leader of Iran’s negotiations, said that a complete ceasefire would only make sense if this blockade were lifted.

Shipping and security sources reported on Wednesday that the U.S. Military has intercepted at least 3 Iranian flagged tankers in Asian waters, and are redirecting them from positions near India and Malaysia, as well as Sri Lanka.

Trump's extension of the ceasefire on Tuesday was a last-minute retreat from his warnings to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges. White House Press Secretary KarolineLeavitt informed reporters that Trump had not set a date for the end of the extended ceasefire.

U.S. EXPORTS SET A RECORD HIGH

Energy trade: Total exports of crude oil and petroleum products from United States rose by 137,000 barrels a day to a "record" 12.88 million barrels bpd, as Asian and European nations bought up supplies following disruptions due to the Iran War.

The Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude stock levels rose, while gasoline and distillate stocks fell.

The?inventory of crude oil rose by 1.9million barrels, as opposed to the 1.2million-barrel expectation in a recent poll.

Analysts had predicted a draw of 1.5 million barrels. Distillate stocks fell by 3.4m barrels, compared to expectations of a drop of 2.5m barrels. (Reporting from Arathy Chow and Emily Chow, both in Singapore; editing by Tom Hogue and Shri Navaratnam.)

(source: Reuters)