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Oil little changed as market weighs combined drivers

Oil prices held steady for a 2nd day on Wednesday as concerns about escalating hostilities in the Ukraine war possibly interfering with oil supply from Russia and signs of growing Chinese crude imports balance out data showing U.S. unrefined stocks rising.

Brent unrefined futures dipped 5 cents to $73.26 a. barrel by 0541 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate unrefined futures. was flat at $69.39 per barrel.

The intensifying war in between significant oil manufacturer Russia and. Ukraine has kept a floor under the market this week.

We may expect (Brent) oil rates to stay supported above. the $70 level in the meantime, as market participants continue to. keep an eye on the geopolitical developments, stated Yeap Jun Rong,. market strategist at IG.

On Tuesday, Ukraine used U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike. Russian territory for the first time, Moscow said. Russian. President Vladimir Putin lowered the bar for a possible nuclear. attack.

This marks a renewed build up in tensions in the. Russia-Ukraine war and brings back into focus the risk of supply. interruptions in the oil market, ANZ analysts stated in a note to. clients.

On the demand side, U.S. crude oil stocks rose by 4.75. million barrels in the week ended Nov. 15, market sources said. on Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute figures.

That was a bigger build than the 100,000 barrel boost. analysts polled were anticipating.

Gasoline stocks, however, fell by 2.48 million barrels,. compared to experts' expectations for a 900,000-barrel. increase.

Distillate stocks likewise fell, shedding 688,000 barrels last. week, the sources said.

Main federal government data is due in the future Wednesday.

In a boost to oil price belief, there were signs that. China, the world's biggest unrefined importer, may have stepped up. oil purchases this month after a period of weak imports.

Data from vessel tracker Kpler showed China's unrefined imports. are on track to end November at or near record highs, an. analyst told Reuters.

Weak imports by China up until now this year have taken down oil. prices, with Brent sinking 20% from its April peak of more than. $ 92 a barrel.

(source: Reuters)