- WTI price loses ground as US Dollar holds ground due to improved yields.
- Crude Oil may limit its downside as traders expect the Fed to reduce rates in September.
- Fed Governor Christopher Waller stated that the US central bank is ‘getting closer’ to a rate cut.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price edges lower due to improved US Dollar (USD). WTI price trades around $81.20 per barrel during the European hours on Thursday. However, WTI price gained ground during Thursday’s Asian session, driven by a bigger-than-expected decline in crude stocks in the United States, the world's largest oil consumer.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the US Crude Oil Stocks Change on Wednesday, reporting a decrease of 4.87 million barrels for the week ending July 12. This decline exceeds the expected drop of 0.80 million barrels and the previous decrease of 3.443 million barrels.
Additionally, growing expectations of the Federal Reserve (Fed) reducing interest rates in September may improve the economic conditions in the United States. The lower borrowing cost would help in increasing economic activities, hence, boosting Oil demand.
On Wednesday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said that the US central bank is ‘getting closer’ to an interest rate cut. Meanwhile, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin stated that easing in inflation had begun to broaden and he would like to see it continue,” per Reuters.
The price of crude Oil could face challenges due to a slowing Chinese economy in the second quarter, which reduces demand in the world's largest Oil-importing country. China's growth drivers remain uneven, and trade tensions are escalating, with the US and EU imposing new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
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.
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