Oil Up After API Reports US Crude Supply Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Oil extended gains after an industry group reported a larger-than-expected decrease in U.S. crude stockpiles.

Futures in New York rose in after-market trading after closing 0.8% higher on Tuesday amid thin liquidity. The American Petroleum Institute reported domestic crude inventories fell 4.79 million barrels last week. That would be the largest stockpile decrease since October if U.S. government data confirm it on Wednesday. Analysts in a Bloomberg survey expected a 3.1 million-barrel drop.

Prices had pared gains during the session, with equities weakening after Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to increase direct stimulus payments in the newly enacted Covid-19 relief bill.

U.S. benchmark crude futures have risen almost 6% so far this month amid optimism around the development of Covid-19 vaccines, yet the timeline of a rollout is shaky. The pandemic continues to rage worldwide and threaten demand for fuels, with the virus making a comeback in Asia.

Higher stimulus checks could “invigorate oil demand,” said Bob Yawger, head of the futures division at Mizuho Securities. “Without the additional stimulus, it could be yet another drag on oil demand. That’s what is undermining oil futures now.”

Prices

West Texas Intermediate for February delivery traded at $48.12 a barrel at 4:44 p.m. after settling at $48 a barrel in New York Brent for February settlement climbed 23 cents to end the session at $51.09 a barrel Trading volumes for both benchmarks were below their average levels over the previous 10 sessions

OPEC+ will meet next week to decide on production levels for February. The producer group is set to add another 500,000 barrels a day of output to the market from January. Russia’s deputy prime minister has said the nation would support a further gradual increase in production in February.

--With assistance from Alex Longley and Saket Sundria.

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