By Elizabeth Low and Grant Smith

Dec 18, 2019

(Bloomberg) Oil retreated from a three-month high after an industry report showed a large build in U.S. crude and gasoline stockpiles, reviving concerns over renewed oversupply.Futures in New York fell as much as 1%, yet held above $60 a barrel after rising 3.7% over the past four trading days as the U.S. and China struck a preliminary trade pact. The American Petroleum Institute reported crude inventories swelled by 4.7 million barrels last week and gasoline stockpiles by 5.6 million barrels, according to people familiar with the data. That would be the largest gasoline build since January if confirmed by official government figures due Wednesday.

U.S. crude inventories have been on an upward trend

“As much as the API has taken the wind out of bulls’ sails, the lull in upside is expected to be short-lived,” said Stephen Brennock, an analyst at PVM Oil Associates Ltd. in London. “After all, recent positive developments have given oil fundamentals for next year a supportive shot in the arm.

Crude has rallied almost 10% this month as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies agreed to deeper-than-expected output cuts and the world’s two largest economies announced a limited trade deal. However, forecast increases in production next year from non-OPEC countries may keep a lid on price gains.

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West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery, which expires Thursday, fell 48 cents, or 0.8%, to $60.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 10:56 a.m. in London. The contract finished up 1.2% on Tuesday at $60.94, the highest close since Sept. 16. The more-active February contract traded 49 cents lower at $60.38.

Brent for February settlement declined 31 cents to $65.79 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe Exchange after climbing 1.2% Tuesday. The global benchmark crude traded at a $5.40 premium to WTI for the same month.

If the API data is confirmed by the Energy Information Administration later, it would be the largest weekly increase in U.S. crude stockpiles since early November. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast a 1.75 million barrel drop in inventories.

Other oil market news:
The golden age of U.S. shale is far from over, with an expected slowdown in the Permian Basin likely to be temporary, according to the new U.S. Energy Secretary. China’s independent refiners are buying oil from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region as they scour the globe for cheaper crude to cope with margins near record lows. Historic rules to clean up pollution in the shipping industry are two weeks from taking effect, but there are signs that enforcing the new legislation will prove tricky. Oil and gas production in the U.K. North Sea could fall “briskly” if crude returns to $50 a barrel, leaving more than 300 fields undeveloped, according to a University of Aberdeen study.

Other oil market news:

The golden age of U.S. shale is far from over, with an expected slowdown in the Permian Basin likely to be temporary, according to the new U.S. Energy Secretary.
China’s independent refiners are buying oil from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region as they scour the globe for cheaper crude to cope with margins near record lows.
Historic rules to clean up pollution in the shipping industry are two weeks from taking effect, but there are signs that enforcing the new legislation will prove tricky.
Oil and gas production in the U.K. North Sea could fall “briskly” if crude returns to $50 a barrel, leaving more than 300 fields undeveloped, according to a University of Aberdeen study.