Singapore — Oil prices eased slightly on Wednesday, after rising more than 1% in the previous session, though geopolitical jitters provided a floor under prices while traders also awaited an expected interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve.
Brent crude futures dipped 14c, or 0.2%, to $68.33 a barrel by 4.05am GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 13c, or 0.2%, to $64.39 a barrel.
The benchmarks settled more than 1% higher in the last trading session due to concern that Russian supplies may be disrupted.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that three industry sources said Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has warned producers they may have to cut output following Ukraine’s drone attacks on critical export ports and refineries.
“The market has a laser focus on the geopolitical volatility and potential Russian supply disruptions. Market jitters are still keeping prices elevated,” said Emril Jamil, a senior oil analyst at the London Stock Exchange Group.
Investors are also awaiting the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s September 16-17 meeting, with a new governor, Stephen Miran, on leave from the Trump administration, joining the deliberations, and a second policymaker, Lisa Cook, still facing efforts by President Donald Trump to oust her.
The central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) on Wednesday, which should stimulate the economy and boost fuel demand.
“Markets are betting on a 25bp Fed rate cut tonight, which traders believe could ease borrowing costs and boost fuel demand,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
She said the rally had also been buoyed by geopolitical jitters and supply risks from conflicts.
“That said, I remain cautious. The global supply overhang for the rest of 2025 looks almost certain as Opec+ is raising output,” Sachdeva said.
IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said the market’s focus would be on “how many members join Stephen Miran in dissenting in favour of a 50bp rate cut”, whether its outlook indicated two or three 25bp cuts and “the tone of Fed chair Powell during the press conference”.
Any “buy-the-rumour, sell-the-fact” reaction in risk assets, including crude oil, would be short-lived, given the possibility of follow-up 25bp rate cuts in October and December, Sycamore said.
In a potentially bullish sign, data on Tuesday showed US crude and petrol stocks fell last week, while distillate stocks rose, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures.
Crude stocks fell by 3.42-million barrels and petrol inventories fell by 691,000 barrels in the week ending September 12, while distillate inventories rose by 1.91-million barrels from the previous week, the sources said.
The market will be watching to see whether data from the US Energy Information Administration on Wednesday matches that.
A Reuters poll showed analysts estimated crude inventories fell by about 900,000 barrels last week, distillate stockpiles rose by about 1-million barrels and petrol stockpiles rose by about 100,000 barrels.
Reuters
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