WTI jumps above $70.00 as Iran missile strike on Israel sparks fears In global oil markets


  • WTI price spikes to near $70.65 in Wednesday’s Asian session. 
  • Middle East geopolitical risks underpin the WTI.
  • Crude Oil Inventory dropped, falling short of expectations.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $70.65 on Wednesday. WTI price edges higher after Iran launched missiles at Israel in a direct attack, raising fear of supply disruptions in a region.

Iran launched over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Iran for a missile attack on Tuesday, but Tehran warned that any response would result in "vast destruction, fuelling fears of a wider war. Additionally, Israel warned it could attack Iranian oil facilities, which could lead to a regional war with Iran, increasing the risk of crude supply disruptions.

US crude oil inventories dropped less than expected last week. According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), crude oil stockpiles in the United States for the week ending September 27 declined by 1.5 million barrels, compared to a fall of 4.339 million barrels in the previous week. The market consensus estimated that stocks would decline by 2.1 million barrels.

On the other hand, less dovish remarks from the Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell that pushed back against calls for another big rate cut in November could weigh on the WTI price. 
Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that more rate cuts are likely as the economy remains on solid ground, yet he cautioned against rapid changes. 

Traders will monitor the US Federal Reserve (Fed) Thomas Barkin, Beth Hammack, Alberto Musalem, and Michelle Bowman's speeches for fresh impetus. Any hawkish comments from Fed officials could drag the WTI price lower. It’s worth noting that lower interest rates will reduce the cost of borrowing, which generally lifts the oil demand.

(This story was corrected on October 2 at 08:30 GMT to remove Bostic from Fed's speakers 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 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.

 

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

EUR/USD extends recovery beyond 1.0400 amid Wall Street's turnaround

EUR/USD extends recovery beyond 1.0400 amid Wall Street's turnaround

EUR/USD extends its recovery beyond 1.0400, helped by the better performance of Wall Street and softer-than-anticipated United States PCE inflation. Profit-taking ahead of the winter holidays also takes its toll. 

 

EUR/USD News
GBP/USD nears 1.2600 on renewed USD weakness

GBP/USD nears 1.2600 on renewed USD weakness

GBP/USD extends its rebound from multi-month lows and approaches 1.2600. The US Dollar stays on the back foot after softer-than-expected PCE inflation data, helping the pair edge higher. Nevertheless, GBP/USD remains on track to end the week in negative territory.

GBP/USD News
Gold rises above $2,620 as US yields edge lower

Gold rises above $2,620 as US yields edge lower

Gold extends its daily rebound and trades above $2,620 on Friday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield declines toward 4.5% following the PCE inflation data for November, helping XAU/USD stretch higher in the American session.

Gold News
Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers

Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers

Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under the $100,000 milestone and touched the $96,000 level briefly on Friday, a sharp decline that has also hit hard prices of other altcoins and particularly meme coins.

Read more
Bank of England stays on hold, but a dovish front is building

Bank of England stays on hold, but a dovish front is building

Bank of England rates were maintained at 4.75% today, in line with expectations. However, the 6-3 vote split sent a moderately dovish signal to markets, prompting some dovish repricing and a weaker pound. We remain more dovish than market pricing for 2025.

Read more
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

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.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures