Overview: Oil prices faced downward pressure on Friday following concerns about economic recovery and higher interest rates. The market observed a notable decline as comments from US central bank officials hinted at prolonged higher interest rates, potentially impacting demand from major crude consumers. Factors Influencing Oil Prices: 1. Unemployment Data: Data released on Thursday revealed a higher-than-expected increase in the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits. This raised concerns about the pace of economic recovery and potential impacts on oil demand. 2. Central Bank Comments: Comments from US central bank officials suggested a stance of higher interest rates for a prolonged period. This outlook contributed to market uncertainty and dampened sentiment, le
Oil Prices Show Modest Gains Amid Falling U.S. Crude Inventories and Strong Chinese Demand
Overview: Oil prices rose on Thursday as a result of falling U.S. crude inventories and a year-on-year increase in Chinese oil imports, supporting higher demand expectations for the world's two largest crude-consuming nations. Brent crude futures and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude saw moderate gains. Although there is optimism for continued demand growth, concerns about geopolitical tensions and upcoming economic factors could cap further increases. U.S. Crude Inventory Drawdown U.S. crude inventories experienced a drawdown of 1.4 million barrels to 459.5 million barrels, exceeding analyst expectations. This drawdown occurred as refinery activity increased, resulting in higher consumption. However, this also led to swelling gasoline and distillate stockpiles, which saw increases of 900