Article /
01 March 2017 at 12:56 GMT
Head of Commodity Strategy / Saxo Bank
Denmark
- Brent and WTI have both returned to their one-month average prices
- Focus is on weekly inventory reports at 1530 GMT this afternoon
- Bloomberg anticipates inventories will move close to 522 million barrels
- Crude stuck in tight ranges, February WTI's tightest monthly range in 14 years
- Despite continued buying, WTI gained just $1.2/barrel over the month
By Ole Hansen
Brent and WTI crude oil have both returned to their one-month average prices with the focus being the weekly inventory report from the Energy Information Administration later today at 1530 GMT.
A Bloomberg survey sees inventories rising by 3 million barrels, which would bring the total to another record of close to 522 million barrels. The market will also focus on export and import data following the latest surge in export and reduction in imports.
Initial weakness on Tuesday was driven by gasoline following reports – later denied – that the White House was consider a proposal to change biofuel blending rules. The denial let to swift recovery which also help bring oil back to unchanged on the day.
RBOB Gasoline roller-coaster Tuesday
Both Brent and WTI crude oil remain stuck, seemingly unable to find enough reason to break out of their months-long trading range. WTI crude oil bounced around within a $3.72/bl range during February, the tightest monthly range in nearly 14 years. Despite continued fund buying it only managed to finish the month $1.2/bl higher.
WTI is currently facing resistance at $55/bl and support at $52.70/bl while for Brent the levels are $57.50/bl and $55/bl.
Source: Saxo Trader
– Edited by Jack Davies
Ole Hansen is head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.