Oil Futures Lose Steam on Threat of U.S. Crude Inventory Growth

Futures fell for a second day as U.S. crude stockpiles were seen expanding for the first time in 11 weeks, ending a record run of declines. A sharp contraction in Brent’s premium to West Texas Intermediate may lead to further inventory gains as U.S. exports grow less economical.

While U.S. oil has risen more than 7 percent this year as OPEC trims supply to reduce a glut, speculation is increasing that the rally may encourage growth in American output, which is already at the highest level in more than three decades. The nation’s crude inventories probably rose by 800,000 barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey before government data Wednesday.

“You have a correction, but we need to see how long it will continue,” said Olivier Jakob, managing director of Petromatrix GmbH in Zug, Switzerland. “There is the narrowing of the WTI-Brent spread, which is bearish for WTI. The U.S. needs to export crude otherwise it will translate into oil moving back into stocks.”

U.S. stockpiles fell to 411.6 million barrels in the week ended Jan. 19, the lowest level since February 2015. Nationwide oil production climbed to 9.88 million barrels a day in the period, the highest in weekly government data since 1983.
more at:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-30/oil-holds-loss-as-u-s-crude-inventories-seen-ending-record-drop