Market Data 
- WTI prices could see an uptick due to rising fuel demand and declining stockpiles in the United States.
- EIA Crude Oil Stocks Change declined by 4.471 million barrels in the previous week, against a 1.2 million-barrel decline.
- Oil prices face downward pressure amid skepticism about the effectiveness of China’s stimulus measures to sufficiently boost its economy.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil prices remain subdued, trading near $69.60 per barrel during Asian trading hours on Thursday. However, crude Oil prices could rise due to increased fuel demand and shrinking stockpiles in the United States, the world’s largest Oil consumer. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a significant drop in US crude Oil inventories, with stockpiles falling by 4.471 million barrels in the week ending September 20, surpassing the anticipated 1.2 million-barrel decline.
Crude Oil prices fell on Wednesday as concerns over potential supply disruptions in Libya diminished. Delegates from Libya’s divided east and west reached an agreement on the process for appointing a central bank governor, a key step toward resolving the ongoing conflict over control of the country’s Oil revenue, which has previously disrupted exports, according to Reuters.
The prices of Oil face challenges as traders re-evaluate the effectiveness of China’s stimulus plans to significantly boost the economy of the world’s largest Oil importer. On Tuesday, People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Pan Gongsheng announced to reduction of the Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR) by 50 basis points (bps). Gongsheng also noted that the central bank would lower the seven-day repo rate from 1.7% to 1.5%, and reduce the down payment for second homes from 25% to 15%. Bloomberg and Reuters reported that China is considering injecting USD 142 billion more of capital into top banks.
The decline in crude Oil prices may be limited by escalating tensions in the Middle East. An Israeli airstrike on Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Tuesday, raising fears of a broader conflict as cross-border rocket attacks intensified. Meanwhile, the United States, France, and several allies have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border “Blue Line” and expressed support for a ceasefire in Gaza, following intense discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 13 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
