- WTI price trades on a flat note around $70.20 in Tuesday’s early Asian session.
- Weak Chinese spending data might weigh on the WTI price.
- Geopolitical risks could cap its downside despite bearish market pressure.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $70.20 on Tuesday. The WTI price trades flat as traders await the Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate decision on Wednesday. However, the concerns over sluggish global demand growth in China might cap the upside for the black gold for the time being.
Chinese November Retail Sales came in slower than expected, raising the fear of weakness in consumer spending in China. This, in turn, undermines the WTI price as China is the world's largest oil importer.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China showed on Monday that the nation’s Retail Sales rose 3.0% YoY in November versus 4.8% prior, below the market consensus of 4.6%. "It's just a very bearish scenario where there's not a lot hope of demand growth for crude oil," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York.
Analysts believe the markets might turn cautious, and traders could take profits while awaiting the Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate decision on Wednesday. The US Fed is anticipated to cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) at the December meeting. Traders will take more cues from the press conference and dot-plot after the monetary policy meeting. Any hawkish remarks from the Fed officials might lift the Greenback and drag the USD-denominated commodity price lower.
On the other hand, the geopolitical risks amid additional sanctions on crude producers Russia and Iran might help limit the WTI’s losses. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized the possibility of targeting Chinese banks and “dark fleet” tankers to curb oil revenue funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. Furthermore, heightened sanctions on Iranian crude exports might boost 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 12 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.
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
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD holds losses below 1.0500 ahead of US data
EUR/USD remains on the back foot below 1.0500 in the European session on Tuesday. A negative shift in risk sentiment revives the haven demand for the US Dollar, while the mixed sentiment data from Germany hurts the Euro, weighing down on the pair. Focus shifts to top-tier US data.
GBP/USD recovers toward 1.2700 after UK jobs data
GBP/USD recovers toward 1.2700 in the European morning on Tuesday. The data from the UK showed that the ILO Unemployment Rate held steady at 4.3% in the three months to October, while the annual wage inflation climbed to 5.2%, helping Pound Sterling hold its ground.
Gold price remains confined in a range ahead of the crucial Fed decision on Wednesday
Gold price struggles to gain any meaningful traction and remains confined in a narrow range. Expectations for a less dovish Fed and elevated US bond yields cap the non-yielding XAU/USD. Geopolitical risks lend support to the safe-haven precious metal ahead of the FOMC meeting.
Ripple reveals official launch for RLUSD, XRP eyes new all-time high at $4.75
Ripple confirmed in a press release on Monday that its RLUSD stablecoin will officially launch on Tuesday across exchanges, including MoonPay, Uphold, CoinMENA, Bitso and ArchaxEx. Bullish sentiments surrounding the launch could help XRP overcome the $2.58 and $2.92 resistance levels.
Will the Fed cut interest rates again and why is the dot plot important Premium
The Fed is expected to cut interest rates on Wednesday for the third consecutive meeting. Every time the Fed decides on rates, it is a crucial event as it directly affects families and businesses in the United States. Moreover, the Fed’s last meeting of the year will also be important because it will provide the outlook for what it expects to do in 2025.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.