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Oil inches up after surprise drop in US crude stockpiles

Oil prices increased in early Asian trade on Thursday, paring sharp losses over the previous 2 sessions, after industry information revealed an unexpected drop in U.S. unrefined stockpiles last week.

Brent unrefined futures increased 45 cents, or 0.6%, to $ 74.67 a barrel by 0023 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $70.84 a barrel, up 45 cents, or 0.6%.

Both crude standards settled on Wednesday, closing at their least expensive levels since Oct. 2 for a second day in a row.

The criteria are down 6-7% so far this week after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Energy Firm cut demand forecasts for 2024 and 2025.

Rates have actually also fallen as danger premiums have cooled with worries having actually relieved that a retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran might interfere with oil products, though unpredictability stays over conflict in the Middle East.

We are now playing a waiting video game for 2 things. First of all the China NPC standing committee to expand the information and the size of the fiscal stimulus plan which I believe is coming, Tony Sycamore, IG market analyst in Sydney, stated.

Investors are awaiting further information from Beijing on its broad strategies announced on Oct. 12 to revive its ailing economy.

The 2nd is Israel's action to Iran. It's coming, we understand that but we don't know when, Sycamore said, including that both aspects bring upside dangers for crude oil.

In the U.S., crude oil and fuel stocks fell last week, market sources said, pointing out American Petroleum Institute figures on Wednesday, against expectations of an accumulation in crude stockpiles.

Unrefined stocks fell by 1.58 million barrels in the week ended Oct. 11, the sources stated on condition of anonymity. Fuel inventories fell by 5.93 million barrels, and distillate stocks fell by 2.67 million barrels, they said.

10 experts surveyed approximated usually that crude inventories rose by about 1.8 million barrels in the week to Oct. 11.

The Energy Information Administration, the analytical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, will release its information at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday.

Also supporting oil prices, the European Reserve Bank is likely to lower interest rates again on Thursday, the first back-to-back rate cut in 13 years, as it shifts focus from cooling inflation in the euro zone to securing economic growth.

(source: Reuters)