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Oil rebounds as U.S. crude, fuel stockpile drops offer some support

Oil prices rebounded on Thursday after falling in the previous session as U.S. crude and fuel inventory decreases supported the marketplace after indications the U.S. Federal Reserve may keep rates higher for longer crimped the outlook for future fuel need.

Brent petroleum futures contract for May settlement rose 0.6%, or 52 cents, at $86.47 a barrel at 0155 GMT, after falling 1.6% on Wednesday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for May delivery increased 0.5%, or 45 cents, to $81.72 a barrel, after falling 1.6%. in the previous session. The April contract ended on Wednesday. down 2.1% at $81.68.

Unrefined inventories in the U.S., the world's greatest oil. customer, succumbed to a second week, the U.S. Energy Info. Administration (EIA) reported on Wednesday. Stockpiles declined. all of a sudden by 2 million barrels to 445 million barrels in the. week ended March 15, versus experts' expectations in a . poll for a 13,000-barrel rise.

The stockpiles fell as exports increased and refiners continued. to increase activity. Fuel inventories succumbed to a seventh. week, down by 3.3 million barrels to 230.8 million, and. recommending progressively strong fuel demand.

Oil refinery runs increase by 127,000 barrels per day and. utilization rates increased.

The stock numbers gave some support to the market after. a blended outlook from U.S. Fed policy makers on rate cuts this. year affected costs earlier.

While the Fed Reserve kept rate of interest in the 5.25% to. 5.50% range on Wednesday, policy makers hardly kept to an. outlook for 3 rate cuts this year, which suggested rates may. remain higher for longer.

The greater rates over a longer duration could suggest minimized. financial development which would impact future fuel need.

However ongoing concerns on how Ukrainian attacks on Russian. refineries would affect global petroleum products are supporting. prices as well.

The marketplace remains careful of ongoing supply side problems. The. Ukrainian drone strikes that got 12% of Russia's total oil. processing capability are most likely to tighten the market amidst the. continuous cutbacks from OPEC, stated experts by ANZ Research in a. note, referring to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting. Countries.

Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil facilities. amid a more than two-year war, with a minimum of seven refineries. targeted by drones this month. The attacks have shut down 7%, or. around 370,500 barrels daily, of Russian refining capability,. according to estimations.

Experts say prolonged interruptions might require Russian. producers to reduce supply if they are not able to export crude. oil and face storage restrictions.

(source: Reuters)