Latest News

Oil edges lower after industry group reports jump in United States stockpiles

Oil costs fell in early Asian trade on Wednesday after an industry group reported a. surprise jump in U.S. stockpiles, fueling issues about. weakerthanexpected need in the leading oil consuming country.

Brent crude oil futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to. $ 84.82 a barrel by 0023 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude. futures fell 11 cents, or 0.1%, to $80.72 per barrel.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) reported U.S. crude. oil stocks rose by 914,000 barrels in the week ended June 21,. according to market sources briefed on the data. Experts surveyed. expect unrefined stocks to have actually declined by nearly 3. million barrels last week.

Official U.S. federal government information on oil and fuel stockpiles is. due at 1430 GMT.

Issues around a weak start to the U.S. summer season driving. season were instrumental for a downturn in oil rates in the. previous session. API reported a 3.84 million barrel dive in. U.S. gasoline stocks last week, the sources stated, compared with. analysts' expectation of a 1 million barrel decline.

Reducing U.S. customer self-confidence this month contributed to concerns. about the financial outlook, and an increasing U.S. dollar weighed on. oil and other products after hawkish remarks from Federal. Reserve officials, ANZ Bank experts stated.

The U.S. dollar index extended gains somewhat on Wednesday. after advancing about 0.1% against a basket of currencies in the. previous session.

A more powerful dollar makes dollar-denominated oil more. expensive for financiers holding other currencies.

(source: Reuters)