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Oil costs edge up, US plan to refill reserve offers support

Oil prices edged up on Tuesday, after a sharp plunge in the previous session, as a U.S. strategy to purchase oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve offered support while investors remained concentrated on advancements in the Middle East.

Brent unrefined futures climbed up 44 cents, or 0.6%, to $ 71.86 a barrel by 0025 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $67.83 a barrel, up 45 cents, or 0.7%.

Both contracts tumbled 6% on Monday, striking their least expensive considering that Oct. 1, after Israel's retaliatory strike on Iran at the weekend bypassed Tehran's oil facilities.

The U.S. on Monday said it was looking for as much as 3 million barrels of oil for the SPR for delivery through May next year, a. purchase that would leave the federal government with little money to. buy more until legislators approve more funds.

While outlook for the Middle East scenario remains. worrying, the market is anticipating a temporary lull in. vindictive strikes between Israel and Iran, said Hiroyuki. Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, an unit of Nissan Securities.

The U.S. plan to refill the SPR provided some assistance to. the marketplace, he said, however anticipated a downward pattern ahead as. peak winter season kerosene demand season in the Northern Hemisphere. was still some method off while need in China remained slow.

On Saturday, ratings of Israeli jets finished three waves of. strikes against missile factories and other websites near Tehran. and in western Iran, the latest exchange in between the Middle. Eastern rivals.

The attacks were more customized toward military targets,. easing fears that Israel might assault Iran's nuclear centers. or oil facilities.

Stress remain high, however, as Iranian Foreign Ministry. spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Iran will utilize. all offered tools to react to Israel's weekend attack.

The U.S. warned Iran at the United Nations Security Council. of serious effects if it undertakes any additional aggressive. acts versus Israel or U.S. workers in the Middle East.

In the U.S., petroleum and fuel stockpiles most likely rose. last week, while distillate stocks were seen down, a. initial Reuters survey showed on Monday.

The American Petroleum Institute industry group is arranged. to release a weekly report on Tuesday and the Energy Details. Administration, the analytical arm of the U.S. Department of. Energy, will release one on Wednesday.

(source: Reuters)