The API Keeps Oil Near its High

Oil consolidated its gains overnight as a larger than expected American Petroleum Institute (API) Crude Inventory drawdown and continuing worries over U.S./Iran relations and Iraqi Kurdistan combined to support prices.

The API drawdown came in at a massive 7.1 million barrels against an expected drop of 3.4 million barrels saw WTI rush higher to the 52.00 region where is closed in New York. Prices should probably have moved higher, but the crude drawdown was tempered by a nearly 2 million barrel rise in gasoline inventories. Traders will now look for confirmation that this year’s inventory fall remains on track with the official DOE Crude Inventory data this evening, with the street looking for a drop of 3.2 million barrels.

Today in Asia we expect the bid tone to remain with trading muted as Singapore is on holiday. Both contracts will remain acutely sensitive to news headlines from the Middle East.

Brent has risen 20 cents from its 58.20 New York close to trade at 58.40, just shy of the overnight high at 58.55 and initial resistance. Above here will bring the 59.10 September high into sight ahead of the much more formidable 60.00 level. Support is at 57.30 with a break suggesting a correction is possible to 56.00.

Brent Daily

WTI closed unchanged at 51.85 and has traded slightly higher to 52.05 in early Asia. Nearby resistance is at 52.50 with a break bringing the long-term resistance zone between 52.50/53.50 into play. Support rests at 51.10 with a break suggesting a correction to 50.00 could occur.

WTI Daily

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Jeffrey Halley

Jeffrey Halley

Senior Market Analyst, Asia Pacific, from 2016 to August 2022
With more than 30 years of FX experience – from spot/margin trading and NDFs through to currency options and futures – Jeffrey Halley was OANDA’s Senior Market Analyst for Asia Pacific, responsible for providing timely and relevant macro analysis covering a wide range of asset classes. He has previously worked with leading institutions such as Saxo Capital Markets, DynexCorp Currency Portfolio Management, IG, IFX, Fimat Internationale Banque, HSBC and Barclays. A highly sought-after analyst, Jeffrey has appeared on a wide range of global news channels including Bloomberg, BBC, Reuters, CNBC, MSN, Sky TV and Channel News Asia as well as in leading print publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among others. He was born in New Zealand and holds an MBA from the Cass Business School.
Jeffrey Halley
Jeffrey Halley

Latest posts by Jeffrey Halley (see all)