Growing U.S. oil inventories sent crude oil prices sliding by a dollar a barrel in Wednesday’s trading. Investors fear the growing crude inventory could result in less demand for oil in the nation.
West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark, dropped $1.23 or 1.6% to settle at $76.64 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Crude oil inventories at Cushing have dropped to their lowest level for this time of year in over a decade.
The depleting stocks at Cushing and the bearish sentiment on the oil market, especially the recent more negative positioning in WTI Crude, could lead to high prices in the near term.
In the three weeks to January 19, inventories at Cushing fell by more than 5 million barrels.
Oil prices jumped 1 percent on Monday on fuel supply concerns after a missile struck a Trafigura-operated fuel tanker in the Red Sea and as Russian refined products exports are set to fall as several refineries are under repair after drone attacks.
Oil rose to the highest in about two months as US inventories, Chinese stimulus and an attack on a Russian refinery ignited a rush of trend-following algorithmic buying.
Oil prices have gained some upward momentum in the last week, driven by geopolitical tensions and inventory drawdowns.
Analysts continue to debate just how serious the geopolitical risks are and whether spare capacity and new production will be able to counter supply issues.
Seasonal shifts in demand, coupled with anticipated interest rate cuts, look set to push oil prices higher in the near future.
Oil markets are finally focusing on geopolitical risk, with disruptions in the Red Sea pushing Brent up toward $79 and WTI above $73.
Hedge funds have cut their bullish bets on crude oil to record lows.
Money managers have slashed their net long positions in both WTI and Brent crude oil by 59,094 lots to just 149,272 in the week ending December 12.
Crude oil prices have been on the decline over the last month, although spot prices for both benchmarks were trading up on Friday.
Oil prices continued to climb on Thursday, with WTI up above $70 and Brent rising to $75.60.
Optimism around both economic growth and oil demand was boosted on Wednesday when the Fed signaled it would cut interest rates next year.
The Fed’s comments also triggered a rally in stocks, bonds, and gold, and sent the U.S. dollar to a four-month low.
Brent crude futures were down 0.9%, or 73 cents, to US$78.15 a barrel by 0735 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at US$73.43 a barrel, down 0.8%, or 64 cents
Oil prices crashed by 4% early on Wednesday morning after confirmation that this weekend’s OPEC+ meeting would be postponed.