Oil climbs ahead of OPEC+ meeting, EIA data
Oil prices recovered on Wednesday, after a U.S. industry report showed crude inventories fell more than expected last week, steadying after overnight losses from the impact of Hurricane Ida on U.S. refineries.
Prices rose ahead of the OPEC+ meeting at 1500 GMT where the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and allies are expected to stick to a plan to add 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) each month through December
Brent crude futures for November gained 45 cents, or 0.6%, to touch $72.08 a barrel by 0651 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for October was at $68.95 a barrel, up 45 cents, or 0.6%.
Tuesday's report from the American Petroleum Institute (API) that showed a bigger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories was bullish and is supporting prices, Avtar Sandu, a senior commodities trader at Phillips Futures said.
U.S. crude stocks fell by 4 million barrels for the week ended Aug. 27, according to two market sources, citing API figures on Tuesday.
Ahead of the weekly Energy Information Administration report due at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) on Wednesday, a Reuters poll of analysts estimated crude stocks would drop 3.1 million barrels.
However, U.S. crude prices are expected to remain under pressure as offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico is gradually recovering, but refinery operations will likely take longer to return to normal, analysts said.
Reference: Reuters
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