Oil Rises on Slower Inflation Rate and Declining Dollar

Oil settled at the highest level in a week on signs of cooling inflation and a weakening dollar. 

West Texas Intermediate topped $91 a barrel in New York after the US reported inflation rose at a slower-than-expected pace, potentially relieving pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates further. Later in the session, a slumping US dollar help to lifted commodities broadly, while government data showed that weekly US gasoline demand had improved after inventories sank below the 10-year seasonal average.

Global supply concerns eased somewhat Wednesday, with Russia’s pipeline operator Transneft PJSC resuming flows on the Druzhba pipeline and US crude inventories rising along with production. 

Oil has lost a quarter of its value since a March peak, hitting a six-month low last week on signs that demand was weakening, especially for US gasoline. The cooler Consumer Price Index data helped markets broadly rally, allaying some of the concerns around a global growth slowdown and higher interest rates. 

A drop in consumer prices may have boosted demand among US drivers. US implied gasoline demand jumped 6.81%, according to the latest report from the US Energy Information Administration, bringing the four-week average up 3.08% from the previous week and above the same week for 2020. Crude inventories rose by more than 5 million barrels last week as weekly production climbed to the highest since April 2020.

“Crude demand isn’t roaring here and as production nears the return to pre-pandemic levels, the oil market isn’t looking so tight anymore,” said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda.

Prices:

  • WTI for September delivery rose $1.43 to settle at $91.93 a barrel in New York.
  • Brent for October settlement gained $1.09 to $97.40 a barrel.

Traders are also set for a barrage of data in the coming days. Both the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency are set to issue their monthly snapshots on Thursday.

(with assistance from Alex Longley)



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