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☆ Copper futures hit record high as data center build-up, EV growth fuels demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Copper futures hit a record high on Wednesday as demand for the base metal stays strong amid a rush to build data centers and the continued electrification of the global economy. It is integral to manufacturing electric vehicles, power grids and wind turbines, especially as the global economy electrifies. The International Energy Agency is expecting power demand from data centers to more than double to over 1000 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2026 from 460 TWh in 2022. Copper production growth forecast for 2024 has been cut to 0.5% compared with a 3.7% growth estimated by ICSG last October 2023. Anglo American, a major producer, said it would cut copper output in 2024 and 2025 as it seeks to cut costs.

Persons: ICSG Organizations: Aurubis, Bank of America, International Energy Agency, Study, Quantum Minerals, Citi, London Metals Exchange Locations: Hamburg, Germany

☆ Houthis claim 'catastrophic' attack in Red Sea that prompted crew to abandon ship
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Iran-backed Houthi militant group on Sunday damaged a ship offshore Yemen, prompting its crew to abandon the vessel in the latest escalation of maritime tensions that have disrupted key trade routes in the Red Sea. Houthi militants later claimed the attack, with spokesperson Yahya Sare'e identifying the vessel as general cargo ship Rubymar and describing it as British. "The ship suffered catastrophic damage and came to a complete halt," Houthi Spokesperson Sare'e said. The hostilities have also prompted armed exchanges between Houthis and British and American forces, which have previously struck at Yemeni targets in a bid to improve maritime security. Sare'e said that the Houthis on Sunday also shot down a U.S. drone in Hodeidah.

Persons: Yahya Sare'e, Sare'e, Ice Brent, Nymex WTI Organizations: Maritime Trade Operations, CNBC, Global, Djiboutian Navy, Hamas, Maersk, Ice, U.S . Central Command, U.S . Navy, Ambrey Analytics Locations: Iran, Yemen, Red, Belize, British, U.S, Saudi, Khair, Varna, Bulgaria, Gulf, Aden, London, Gaza, Danish, Good Hope, Houthis, ., Houthi, Greece, Yemen's

But that came after they had sold petroleum in eight of the previous nine weeks, reducing their position by a total of 342 million barrels. In the premier NYMEX WTI contract, funds had amassed bearish short positions amounting to 116 million barrels by Nov. 28, up from 20 million barrels eight weeks earlier. Funds purchased the equivalent of 10 million barrels split between U.S. gasoline (+2 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and European gas oil (+4 million). Funds held a net long position in gasoline of 66 million barrels (72nd percentile) up from 26 million barrels (19th percentile) six weeks earlier. Related columns:- Record U.S. oil output challenges Saudi mastery (December 4, 2023)- Investors bet against OPEC+ raising oil prices (November 28, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: de Wouw, John Kemp, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Port, REUTERS, ICE, Fund, U.S, . Funds, U.S ., Funds, Saudi, OPEC, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Rotterdam, Netherlands, Brent, Saudi Arabia, United States, U.S

REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Investors are increasingly pessimistic about the outlook for crude oil prices as doubts grow OPEC+ will cut production enough to offset rising non-OPEC output and a deteriorating economic outlook. But many professional money managers are more optimistic about refined fuel prices, especially U.S. gasoline and diesel, expecting low inventories will ensure prices remain stronger than crude. By contrast, the position in fuels was 114 million barrels (51st percentile), with substantial positions in U.S. gasoline (64 million barrels) and U.S. diesel (33 million barrels). The surplus had swelled from +60 bcf (+2% or +0.23 standard deviations) at the start of October despite very low prices. Related columns:- U.S. crude oil bears risk reversal from crowded trade (November 20, 2023)- U.S. gasoline stocks add to crude oil turbulence (November 17, 2023)- U.S. oil prices slide as stocks accumulate at Cushing (November 16, 2023)- Oil traders turn bearish, daring OPEC⁺ to cut again (November 14, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Brent, Henry, John Kemp, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, ICE, U.S ., Funds, Henry Hub, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Vienna, Austria, OPEC, NYMEX, Saudi Arabia, Louisiana, Cushing

☆ Oil group OPEC and its allies delay policy-setting meeting by four days
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Opec logo displayed on a smart phone with Opec seen in the background, in this photo illustration. It was not immediately clear whether the OPEC+ group would be holding a virtual or in-person meeting on Thursday, or whether ministers would still adjourn at the OPEC secretarial headquarters in Vienna. Earlier in the day, Bloomberg News issued a report saying the meeting of Sunday could be delayed amid Saudi dissatisfaction over the oil production levels of some countries. The upcoming meeting faced a challenging market environment, defined by depressed oil prices, a slower-than-expected Chinese demand recovery and petropolitics amid conflict in the Middle East. High interest rates and banking turmoil largely slumped oil prices in the first half of the year, before a sharp boost from several voluntary supply declines announced independently of OPEC+ strategy.

Persons: Jonathan Raa, Ice Brent, —, Abdulaziz bin Salman Organizations: Getty, of, Petroleum, Ice, OPEC Secretariat, Conference of, United, United Arab Emirates —, Bloomberg News Locations: Brussels, Belgium, OPEC, Vienna, Dubai, United Arab, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Venezuela

Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsAs in previous weeks, sales in the most recent week were led by crude (-16 million barrels), especially NYMEX and ICE WTI (-11 million), with some extra sales in Brent (-5 million). Funds held a larger position of 171 million barrels in Brent, but that was in only the 28th percentile, still significantly bearish. Funds purchased 9 million barrels over the seven days ending on Nov. 14 and had purchased a total of 25 million barrels since Oct. 17. The net position had doubled to 51 million barrels (46th percentile) on Nov. 14 up from 26 million barrels (19th percentile) four weeks earlier. Related columns:- U.S. gasoline stocks add to crude oil turbulence (November 17, 2023)- U.S. oil prices slide as stocks accumulate at Cushing (November 16, 2023)- Oil traders turn bearish, daring OPEC⁺ to cut again (November 14, 2023)- Oil prices slump as fundamentals reassert themselves (November 9, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: John Kemp, Barbara Lewis Organizations: ICE, Funds, ICE WTI, Fund, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Brent, NYMEX, Saudi Arabia, Russia, bearishness, United States, Cushing

Gasoline prices are displayed at an Exxon gas station behind American flag in Edgewater, New Jersey, U.S., June 14, 2022. By September and October, gasoline stocks were increasing rather than falling as is normal at this point in the year. Gasoline margins fell by three-fourths to an average of less than $10 per barrel in October, among the lowest for a decade. In the meantime, the lower intake added to crude inventories and accelerated the pullback in crude prices and calendar spreads. Related columns:- U.S. oil prices slide as stocks accumulate at Cushing (November 16, 2023)- Oil traders turn bearish, daring OPEC⁺ to cut again (November 14, 2023)- Oil prices slump as fundamentals reassert themselves (November 9, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Mike Segar, Cushing, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: Exxon, REUTERS, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Edgewater , New Jersey, U.S, Cushing

Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 57 million barrels in the six most important futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on Nov. 7. Fund managers have been sellers in five of the most recent six weeks reducing their combined position by a total of 331 million barrels since Sept. 19. The combined position was reduced to just 349 million barrels (13th percentile for all weeks since 2013) from a high of 680 million barrels (64th percentile) six weeks earlier. Bearish short positions in the premier NYMEX WTI contract were boosted to 96 million barrels on Nov. 7 from just 20 million at the start of October. Related columns:- Oil prices slump as fundamentals reassert themselves (November 9, 2023)- Investors dump crude oil and distillates as Mideast risk recedes (November 6, 2023)- Crude oil sees fresh short sales as interest rates rise (October 30, 2023)- Investors dumped oil among fastest rates in last decade (October 16, 2023)- Oil investors turn cautious away from Cushing squeeze (October 2, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Henry Romero, Brent, Cushing, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, OPEC, ICE, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Chartbook, WTI, NYMEX, Cushing, Oklahoma, Russia

Chartbook: Oil inventories and pricesCushing accounted for 55% of the nationwide depletion even though it held less than 10% of all crude inventories at the end of June. There were only small depletions in the rest of the Midwest (5 million barrels) and along the Gulf of Mexico (8 million barrels) and insignificant changes elsewhere. Since then, prices and spreads have collapsed, even though U.S. crude inventories at Cushing and elsewhere have barely changed so far. U.S. commercial crude inventories are about 9 million barrels (-2% or -0.22 standard deviations) below the prior ten-year seasonal average. Related columns:- U.S. oil futures surge as Cushing stocks evaporate(September 28, 2023)- Oil prices surge as stocks drain away from Cushing(September 15, 2023)- Depleting U.S. crude inventories lift oil prices(August 31.

Persons: Todd Korol, Brent, Brent's, CUSHING, NYMEX WTI, bullish, WTI, Cushing, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: Gas, REUTERS, OPEC, Treasury, Manufacturers, Fund, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Granum , Alberta, Canada, Saudi Arabia, U.S, United States, Europe, China, Cushing, Oklahoma, of Mexico, NYMEX, OPEC

The wave of sales has reversed much of the 398 million barrels purchased between the end of June and the middle of September. WTI SQUEEZE ENDSIn the seven days ending on October 31, selling was led by crude (-78 million barrels), especially NYMEX and ICE WTI (-62 million barrels), with a smaller contribution from Brent (-16 million). The remaining position (153 million barrels) was the lowest for 16 weeks since July 11 (128 million barrels). Crude inventories around the NYMEX delivery point at Cushing in Oklahoma depleted to just 22 million barrels at the end of September from 43 million barrels at the end of June. But most of the sales have come in European gas oil (-49 million barrels) rather than U.S. diesel (-6 million) reflecting the poor outlook for the European economy.

Persons: Angus Mordant, Cushing, John Kemp Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, ICE, diesel, Funds, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Loving County , Texas, U.S, North America, Europe, China, Iran, Israel, Cushing, Oklahoma, WTI, NYMEX

☆ U.S. Oil Inventories Rise Amid Steady Production
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Paulo Trevisani | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The EIA said stockpiles increased last week to 421.9 million barrels. Photo: Nick Oxford/REUTERSU.S. oil inventories rose more than expected last week according to data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration, in a potential headwind for crude prices as markets try to recover from a losing month. The Nymex front-month crude contract for December delivery was recently up 2% at $82.71 a barrel, off early highs.

Persons: Nick Oxford Organizations: EIA, REUTERS, Energy Information Administration Locations: REUTERS U.S

The most recent week saw sales of Brent (11 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (4 million) and U.S. diesel (4 million) only partially offset by purchases of U.S. gasoline (3 million) and European gas oil (1 million). Short positions in NYMEX WTI climbed to 41 million barrels on Oct. 24 up from a 16-month low of 19 million barrels on Oct. 3. U.S. NATURAL GASFund managers were still struggling to become outright bullish about the outlook for U.S. gas despite futures prices being very low in real terms. Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 125 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas futures and options over the seven days ending Oct. 24. From a statistical perspective, the very low inflation-adjusted base means there must be more potential for prices to rise rather than fall.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Cushing, NYMEX WTI, John Kemp, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, ICE, U.S ., OPEC, Fund, Thomson, Reuters Locations: NYMEX, Brent

☆ U.S. Oil Inventories Increase Amid High Production
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Paulo Trevisani | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Oil stored at Cushing, Okla., the delivery point for U.S. stocks, rose to 21.2 million barrels. Photo: nick oxford/ReutersU.S. oil inventories rose by more than expected last week according to data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration, weakening already declining crude prices. The Nymex front-month crude contract for December delivery was recently down 1% at $83 a barrel.

Persons: Okla Organizations: oxford, Reuters, Energy Information Administration Locations: Cushing, Reuters U.S

Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018. As a result, the combined position was reduced to 483 million barrels (30th percentile for all weeks since 2013) down from 680 million barrels (64th percentile) on Sept. 19. Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsThe most recent week saw massive sales across the board, including Brent (-65 million barrels) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (-40 million), U.S. gasoline (-15 million), European gas oil (-13 million) and U.S. diesel (-7 million). Most of the adjustment came from liquidation of former bullish long positions (-122 million barrels) rather than initiation of new bearish short ones (+18 million). Net positions in Brent (20th percentile), U.S. gasoline (25th percentile) and European gas oil (28th percentile) were all well below their long-term averages.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Cushing, John Kemp Organizations: Midland , Texas U.S, REUTERS, OPEC, Investors, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Funds, ICE, U.S . diesel, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Midland , Texas, U.S, NYMEX, Brent , U.S, Brent

Fund managers sold a total of 57 million barrels over latest two weeks after having purchased 398 million barrels over the previous 12 weeks since the end of June. Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 3 million barrels over the week ended Oct. 3. Fund managers have sold gasoline in each of the latest three weeks by a total of 22 million barrels since Sept. 12. As a result, the net position has been cut to 48 million barrels (42nd percentile) from 71 million (77th percentile). Funds held a net long position of just 9 billion cubic feet (32nd percentile since 2010) down from a recent high of 743 billion cubic feet (48th percentile) on July 11.

Persons: Cushing, Brent, John Kemp, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, ICE, U.S, Henry Hub, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Funds, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, U.S, Israel, Chartbook, Brent, NYMEX, Louisiana, Pacific, United States

Funds continued to purchase NYMEX and ICE WTI (+16 million barrels), reflecting the intensifying squeeze on crude inventories around the delivery point at Cushing in Oklahoma. WTI purchases have totalled 152 million barrels over the five most recent weeks and taken the net position to 286 million barrels (60th percentile for all weeks since 2013). But funds were net sellers of Brent in the most recent week (-22 million barrels) after buying in the three previous weeks (+63 million). Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsOn the product side, fund managers were significant sellers of U.S. gasoline (-13 million barrels) and European gas oil (-7 million), which was only partially offset by some small buying of U.S. diesel (+2 million). U.S. NATURAL GASInvestors became increasingly bearish on the outlook for U.S. gas prices despite progressive elimination of the large inventory surplus inherited from 2022.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Brent, Cushing, John Kemp, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Funds, ICE, U.S ., U.S, Investors, Henry Hub, Climate, Nino, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Cushing, Oklahoma, Brent, Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, Saudi

☆ Saudi energy minister says oil supply cuts are not about 'jacking up prices,' as Brent hovers at $95 a barrel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary, Canada, on Sept. 18, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSaudi Arabia's energy minister said Riyadh and Moscow's decision to extend crude oil supply cuts is not about "jacking up prices," as Brent futures hover near $95 a barrel and analysts predict further rises into triple digits. The increases have rallied some analysts around speculation of a short-term return to oil prices at $100 per barrel. Asked on the possibility of hitting that threshold, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth on Monday admitted oil prices could cross into triple digits in a Bloomberg TV interview. Energy prices have repeatedly underpinned higher inflation in the months since the war in Ukraine and Europe's gradual loss of access to sanctioned Russian seaborne oil supplies.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Topping, Mike Wirth, We're, we're, Abdulaziz, Fatih Birol, they've, Amin Nasser Organizations: World Petroleum Congress, Bloomberg, Getty, Saudi, Brent, Saudi Energy, Organization of, Petroleum, Chevron, International Energy Agency, IEA, CNBC, United Arab Emirates Locations: Calgary, Canada, Riyadh, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, London, U.S, Ukraine, Paris, China, Saudi, Aramco, United Nations

Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 41 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on Sept. 12. The net position in all products had fallen to 155 million barrels (71st percentile) on Sept. 12 down from 177 million (80th percentile) on Aug. 15. Short positions in NYMEX WTI slumped to just 21 million barrels on Sept. 12, the lowest for more than a year since June 2022. U.S. NATURAL GASInvestors remain ambivalent about the outlook for U.S. gas prices – torn between depleting inventories and the prospect of a warmer-than-average winter driven by a strong El Niño. The prospect of reduced consumption and slower export growth is weighing on gas prices and has kept them range bound for the last three months.

Persons: Richard Carson, bullishness, NYMEX WTI, Investors, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, REUTERS, ICE, U.S . diesel, Fund, distillates, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Freeport , Texas, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Europe, China, distillates, Saudi, Cushing, Oklahoma, NYMEX, distillates ., East Asia, North America, Pacific

Crude oil storage tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at the Cushing oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S. April 21, 2020. Cushing crude stocks have depleted by 18 million barrels (-42%) since the end of June compared with just 14 million barrels (-3%) elsewhere. In consequence, the net position in WTI climbed to 225 million barrels (42nd percentile for all weeks since 2013) up from a record low of just 46 million barrels. It is possible Cushing inventories are being liquidated to make up for reduced flows from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East exporters. Related columns:- Depleting U.S. crude stocks draw in hedge funds (September 11, 2023)- Hedge funds buy U.S. crude as stocks fall (September 4, 2023)- Depleting U.S. crude inventories lift oil prices (August 31, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Cushing, Long, WTI, John Kemp, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, European Commission, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, refiners, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, U.S, Cushing, Oklahoma, United States, Gulf, Europe, Saudi Arabia, North America, Asia

Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 98 million barrels of futures and options based on crude over the seven days ending on Sept. 5. Short positions in NYMEX WTI had been reduced to just 30 million barrels on Sept. 5 from 136 million barrels on June 27. In the last 10 shorting cycles, shorts have fallen to an average of 24 million barrels. Following their repeated extension, the cuts are set to remove a total of 245 million barrels by the end of December if implemented in full. Related columns:- Hedge funds buy U.S. crude as stocks fall (September 4, 2023)- Depleting U.S. crude inventories lift oil prices (August 31, 2023)- Prospect of strong El Niño weighs on U.S. gas prices (August 30, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Bing Guan, Brent, NYMEX WTI, Cushing, bullishness, John Kemp, Susan Fenton Organizations: Angeles Refinery, California Air Resources Board, OPEC ⁺, ICE, bearishness, Henry, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Angeles, California, Carson , California, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Brent, WTI, NYMEX, Chartbook, Russia, Saudi, Cushing, Oklahoma

Pumpjacks are seen during sunset at the Daqing oil field in Heilongjiang province, China August 22, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Oil is back in the spotlight after Russia and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday extended output cuts. Oil prices have essentially been disinflationary all year, meaning the year-on-year price change has always been negative, sometimes dramatically so. With the dollar, bond yields and oil prices all marching higher, it is little wonder investors are drawing in their horns.

Persons: Stringer, Jamie McGeever, Brent, Japan's Hajime Takata, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Reserve Bank of Australia, U.S ., Asia, Bank, Japan's, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Heilongjiang province, China, Asia, Taiwan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia

Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 19 million barrels in the NYMEX and ICE U.S. crude (WTI) futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on August 29. Bearish short positions in the premier NYMEX WTI contract had been reduced to just 49 million barrels, down from 136 million. Total commercial crude inventories had fallen into line with the prior ten-year average on August 25 while stocks at Cushing had depleted to almost 30% below the average. Hedge fund managers have been trying to get bullish towards U.S. gas prices, and the inventory surplus inherited from 2022 has been shrinking. Related columns:- Depleting U.S. crude inventories lift oil prices (August 31, 2023)- Prospect of strong El Niño weighs on U.S. gas prices (August 30, 2023)- Crude oil prices stalled as hedge funds sold (August 29, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Richard Carson, John Kemp, Mike Harrison Organizations: Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, REUTERS, ICE, Cushing, U.S . diesel, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Freeport , Texas, U.S, Cushing, Oklahoma, Brent, Washington, Illinois, Maine

Pipelines run to Enbridge Inc.'s crude oil storage tanks at their tank farm in Cushing, Oklahoma. Cushing crude inventories have declined in five of the most recent six weeks by a total of 9 million barrels (-24%) since July 14. The drawdown in U.S. crude inventories has coincided with additional production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia totalling around 75 million barrels during July and August. U.S. NET CRUDE IMPORTSU.S. net crude oil imports remain subdued despite the depletion of inventories with exports continuing to run at a relatively fast rate while imports stay low. Related columns:- Oil market to tighten modestly in late 2023 (August 17, 2023)- Crude oil and fuels draw funds as sentiment shifts (August 7, 2023)- U.S. oil and gas production begins to flatten (August 4, 2023)- Saudi output cut removes downside risk from oil market (July 12, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Nick Oxford, CUSHING, Cushing, Biden, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: Enbridge Inc, REUTERS, U.S . Energy Information Administration, refiners, Traders, NET, U.S . Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Cushing , Oklahoma, Chartbook, Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Asia, Europe, Asia . U.S, Ukraine, Saudi

LONDON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices have stalled as the wave of hedge fund buying that helped lift them throughout July and the first part of August has been replaced by gentle selling. Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 30 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on Aug. 22. Nearly all the sales were in crude (-29 million barrels) with sales of NYMEX and ICE WTI (-16 million barrels) and Brent (-13 million barrels), according to position records filed with regulators and exchanges. There was a mix of profit-taking after the previous rally by liquidating existing bullish long positions (-18 million barrels) and speculative short sales (+11 million barrels) in anticipation of future price falls. There are also increasing indications the United States is relaxing sanctions on crude exports from Iran and Venezuela in exchange for diplomatic objectives and to keep a lid on oil prices.

Persons: Brent, John Kemp, Barbara Lewis Organizations: ICE, Henry, U.S . National Oceanic, Prediction Center, CPC, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, COVID, States, Iran, Venezuela, NYMEX, United States, Pacific, North America

Position-taking was also likely hit by the traditional seasonal torpor that descends in the middle of August with many senior trading and investment staff across North America and Europe on holiday. Purchases of Brent (+20 million barrels), U.S. gasoline (+6 million) and European gas oil (+4 million) were offset by sales of NYMEX and ICE WTI (-29 million) and U.S. diesel (-1 million). Funds held a net long position of 707 billion cubic feet (47th percentile for all weeks since 2010) up from a net short position of 1,061 billion cubic feet (7th percentile) at the end of January. Working gas inventories in underground storage were +188 billion cubic feet (+7% or +0.58 standard deviations) above the prior 10-year seasonal average on Aug. 11. The surplus has narrowed consistently from +299 billion cubic feet (+12% or +0.81 standard deviations) at the end of June.

Persons: John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: North, ICE, U.S . diesel, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: North America, Europe, Brent, U.S

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