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Oil edges lower after dive in US gas stocks, OPEC+ supply choice in focus

Oil costs edged lower in Asian trading on Thursday, after a surprise jump in U.S. gasoline stocks ahead of the country's Thanksgiving holiday stimulated worry over need in the leading consumer of the motor fuel.

Brent unrefined futures fell by 4 cents, or 0.1%, to $ 72.79 per barrel by 0220 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate unrefined futures were a cent lower at $68.71 a. barrel.

Trading is expected to be light due to U.S. holiday.

U.S. fuel stocks rose 3.3 million barrels in the week. ended on Nov. 22, the U.S. Energy Information Administration. ( EIA) stated on Wednesday, countering expectations for a little. draw in fuel stocks ahead of record vacation travel.

Oil experts had actually expected U.S. gas stocks to decline by. 46,000 barrels last week, according to a Reuters poll ahead of. the EIA report.

Slowing fuel need growth in top consumers the United. States and China has weighed heavily on oil rates this year,. although supply curtailments from OPEC+, which groups the. Company of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with Russia. and other allies, have restricted the losses.

Two sources from the producer group informed Reuters on Tuesday. that OPEC+ members are talking about a further delay to a planned. oil output hike that was due to start in January. The group is. to satisfy on Sunday to choose policy for the early months of 2025.

The group, which pumps about half the world's oil, had. previously said it would slowly roll back oil production cuts. with small boosts over lots of months in 2024 and 2025.

Oil prices came under pressure this week from Israel's. agreement to a ceasefire handle Lebanon's Hezbollah group. The ceasefire began on Wednesday and assisted ease concerns that. the dispute might interrupt oil supplies from the leading producing. Middle East area.

Market individuals are uncertain for how long the break in the. battling will hold, with the wider geopolitical backdrop for. oil remaining dirty, analysts at ANZ Bank stated.

Oil rates are underestimated due to a market deficit, heads of. products research at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley cautioned. in recent days, also pointing to a possible threat to Iranian. supply from sanctions that might be implemented under U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

(source: Reuters)