WTI extends its decline below $76.50 amid China demand concerns, eyes on Fed rate decision


  • WTI attracts some sellers near $76.25 in Tuesday’s Asian session, down 0.45% on the day. 
  • The weaker outlook for crude demand in China weighs on the WTI price. 
  • Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are likely to disrupt oil supplies, capping the downside for Oil prices.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $76.25 on Tuesday. WTI price extends its decline to the lowest level since June 10 amid the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate cut expectation in September and China’s weaker demand. 

The Fed is anticipated to keep interest rates unchanged in the range of 5.25%-5.50% for the eighth time in a row at its July meeting on Wednesday. Traders will also take more cues from the Fed Press Conference for the interest rate cut path. Anydovish messages from the US central bank could be positive for risk-sensitive assets like WTI price. 

Additionally, the weaker demand and sluggish economy in China weigh on WTI price as China is the top largest consumer of oil in the world. China's total fuel oil imports fell by 11% in the first half of 2024, according to the data released earlier this month. "The economic problems in China are also sucking the juice out of the oil market," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York.

The Golan Heights attack on Saturday raised worries about a war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel accuses Hezbollah of carrying out the strike on a football pitch, which killed at least 12 people, including children, and it has promised to react. However, Hezbollah denies being involved in the attack. The market reaction to the recent Middle East conflict has been muted. However, escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Hezbollah might disrupt oil supplies and lift the WTI price. 
 

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.


 

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD: Bulls continue to target 0.6300

AUD/USD: Bulls continue to target 0.6300

AUD/USD traded in a tight range and faltered once again just ahead of the key 0.6300 hurdle on the back of the renewed buying interest in the US Dollar and the widespread knee-jerk in the risk complex.

AUD/USD News
EUR/USD: Further gains look at 1.0600 and above

EUR/USD: Further gains look at 1.0600 and above

The weekly recovery in EUR/USD gave signs of some loss of momentum despite the pair hit new three-week highs around 1.0460 in a context dominated by the resurgence of the bid bias around the Greenback.

EUR/USD News
Gold remains on track to challenge record peaks

Gold remains on track to challenge record peaks

Gold price sticks to positive bias for the third successive day on Wednesday and trades near its highest level since November 1 above $2,750. The uncertainty around US President Donald Trump's trade policies turns out to be a key factor that continues to drive haven flows towards the precious metal.

Gold News
Dogecoin Price Prediction: Bulls target $0.40 rally as Trump officially launches Elon Musk’s DOGE

Dogecoin Price Prediction: Bulls target $0.40 rally as Trump officially launches Elon Musk’s DOGE

Dogecoin price rose 5% on Wednesday to reclaim $0.38 as Donald Trump signed the DOGE department into law. Media reports linking the Dogecoin logo to the official DOGE website sparked bullish speculations that a $0.50 breakout could be imminent. 

Read more
Netflix posts record quarter, as Trump talks tariffs on China

Netflix posts record quarter, as Trump talks tariffs on China

There has been a positive tone to risk this week, as the market digests Trump 2.0. However, Trump is not the only show in town. Earnings reports are also a key driver of stock indices, and the news is good.

Read more
Trusted Broker Reviews for Smarter Trading

Trusted Broker Reviews for Smarter Trading

VERIFIED Discover in-depth reviews of reliable brokers. Compare features like spreads, leverage, and platforms. Find the perfect fit for your trading style, from CFDs to Forex pairs like EUR/USD and Gold.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures