Oil extends positive factors on sturdy US demand hopes, Russia provide issues

By Yuka Obayashi

TOKYO (Reuters) – Oil costs prolonged positive factors on Friday, headed for a weekly improve, as falling inventories of U.S. gasoline and distillate raised expectations of strong demand whereas issues over provide disruptions in Russia lent help.

Brent futures climbed 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $76.64 a barrel by 0123 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude edged up 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $72.65.

Each benchmarks have been set for a weekly acquire of about 3%.

U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose whereas gasoline and distillate inventories fell final week as seasonal upkeep at refineries led to decrease processing, the Power Data Administration mentioned on Thursday. [EIA/S]

“Drawdowns of U.S. gasoline and distillate stockpiles, together with issues over tight provides in Russia, are supporting oil costs,” mentioned Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities.

“Expectations for a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, which may ease sanctions on Moscow, have pale considerably resulting from Ukraine’s hardened stance, prompting some traders to purchase again into the market,” he added.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier within the week was enraged by U.S. and Russian strikes to barter a peace deal with out Kyiv and feedback by U.S. President Donald Trump blaming Ukraine for beginning the three-year-old battle with Moscow.

Nevertheless, following a gathering with Trump’s envoy for the Ukraine battle on Thursday, Zelenskiy mentioned Ukraine was able to work shortly to supply a powerful settlement on investments and safety with the US.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent instructed Bloomberg Tv on Thursday that Russia may win some reduction from U.S. sanctions based mostly on its willingness to barter an finish to its struggle in Ukraine.

In the meantime, disruptions to grease provide continued to maintain costs elevated.

Russia mentioned Caspian Pipeline Consortium oil flows, a serious route for crude exports from Kazakhstan, have been decreased by 30%-40% on Tuesday after a Ukraine drone assault on a pumping station.

Nonetheless, Kazakhstan has pumped document excessive oil volumes regardless of harm on its important export route through Russia, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), trade sources mentioned on Thursday. It was not instantly clear how Kazakhstan had been capable of pump document volumes given output will increase must correspond with export pipeline capability.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Modifying by Sonali Paul)