Oil prices witnessed a significant uptick on Thursday, driven by a combination of factors including a substantial decline in U.S. crude stockpiles and optimism surrounding China's economic recovery fueled by the central bank's move to cut banks' reserve ratio.
As of 0430 GMT, Brent crude futures rose by 0.3% to reach $80.29 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 0.4% to $75.40 a barrel.
The Energy Information Administration reported a remarkable 9.2 million-barrel drop in U.S. crude stockpiles last week, surpassing the 2.2 million-barrel draw predicted by analysts in a Reuters poll. The significant decrease was attributed to a sharp decline in U.S. crude imports, influenced by winter weather that led to refinery closures and reduced travel.
In addition to the positive inventory data, the announcement of a deep cut to bank reserves by China's central bank injected approximately $140 billion into the banking system. This move aimed to bolster the economy and support struggling stock markets, contributing to the positive sentiment in oil markets.
Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities, highlighted the impact of these factors, stating, “A significant drop in the U.S. oil inventories and expectations of China’s economic recovery and more stimulus measures supported oil prices." He also noted that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East added further support to the buying trend.
Despite concerns over geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, where the U.S. military conducted strikes in Yemen, the impact on oil prices was capped. Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, explained that risk premiums had already been factored into prices, stating, "There is no actual damage done to crude oil supplies ... it’s mere anticipation that the Red Sea contagion will lead to further disruption in oil flow from the producing region."
While the anticipation of potential disruptions has been priced in, Sachdeva emphasized that oil investors may need a concrete catalyst to drive prices higher. The current geopolitical tensions have yet to provide that catalyst, underscoring the delicate balance in the oil market.
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