- Posted on October 30, 2024
- News
- By FC Team
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Investing.com-- Oil prices rose in Asian trade on Wednesday, recouping a measure of recent losses as industry data showed an unexpected draw in U.S. inventories, while the Middle East conflict remained in focus.Markets were also awaiting a string of key economic readings and central bank meetings in major economies over the coming days, which are likely to factor into the outlook for oil demand. Brent oil futures expiring in December rose 0.5% to $71.50 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 0.6% to $67.63 a barrel by 00:11 ET (04:11 GMT).Both contracts fell sharply this week after a less severe than feared strike by Israel against Iran helped ease some concerns over a dire escalation in the Middle East conflict. But Israel maintained its offensives against Hamas and Hezbollah, with few signs that a ceasefire was close. US inventories see weekly draw- API Data from the American Petroleum Institute showed U.S. oil inventories saw a draw of 0.57 million barrels in the past week, compared to expectations for a build of 2.3 million barrels.The reading usually heralds a similar trend in official inventory data, which is due later on Wednesday, and offered some relief to oil markets, in that it indicated supplies in the world’s biggest fuel consumer were somewhat tight. Still, U.S. oil demand is expected to cool in the coming months as the winter season deters travel, while sustained pressure on the economy from sticky inflation and high interest rates is also expected to weigh.