NEW YORK: US crude oil futures rose nearly $2 yesterday, narrowing their discount to European Brent as traders expected data to show supplies were draining from the contract’s benchmark delivery point.
Market perception that the gradual start-up of TransCanada Corp’s Keystone pipeline would transport supplies from oil hub Cushing, Oklahoma, where the US crude oil contract is priced, to the Gulf Coast supported prices.
A lack of pipelines has kept US prices depressed relative to Brent oil for the last three years.
“The Brent/WTI spread is contracting a bit more, and that always helps crude prices,” said Tariq Zahir, managing member of commodity trading advisor Tyche Capital Advisors in New York. “The market is expecting a little bit more of a draw at Cushing since that pipeline has opened up. It’s a volatile trade.”
Brent oil also rose but not as high, reversing Monday losses spurred by concerns over turmoil in emerging markets and a perceived economic slowdown in China.
Brent crude touched a high of $107.79 a barrel, up $1.10, but slipped to $107.24 by 12:27pm EST (1727 GMT). On Monday, Brent fell $1.19, its biggest loss since January 2.
US light crude oil touched a high of $97.66, up $1.94, before slipping slightly to trade $1.60 higher at $97.32.
The spread between the two benchmarks narrowed by as much as $1.20 to a low of $9.77 yesterday. It was last trading at $9.92.
US crude was also supported by analysts’ projections for a drop in distillate inventories, including heating oil and diesel fuel, as demand rose over a brutally cold winter across the Northern Hemisphere.
The front-month contract for US ultra low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), commonly known as heating oil, was slightly higher at $3.1053 per gallon. It traded lower earlier in the session as traders sold positions ahead of Friday’s expiration of the February contract.
The market awaited U.S. inventory data set for release by the American Petroleum Institute Tuesday at 4.30pm EST (2130 GMT).
Analysts on average expect distillate stocks, including heating oil and diesel fuel, to show a drop of 2.4 million barrels, while US crude stocks likely rose by 2.7 million, according to a Reuters poll.
The US Energy Information Administration publishes its data on Wednesday at 10:30am EST (1530 GMT).
Meanwhile, global equities markets steadied after three days of intense selling. The US government reported a drop in durable goods orders, and investors continued to watch the U.S. Federal Reserve as it considers tapering the bond-buying program.
The central bank is expected to approve a $10bn cut to its monthly bond buying stimulus. A rollback would support the dollar, weighing on commodities priced in the currency.
Reuters
