Oil rig pumpjacks, also known as thirsty birds, extract crude from the Wilmington Field oil deposits area near Long Beach, California July 30, 2013.
Crude oil futures rose Wednesday ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony before Congress and the release of U.S. inventory data.
The West Texas Intermediate contract for April gained 86 cents, or 1.10%, to $79.01 a barrel.
May Brent futures added 66 cents, or 0.80%, to $82.70 a barrel.
Traders will be closely watching Powell's testimony before the House Financial Services Committee for more detail on the possible timing of interest rate cuts that the market is expecting this year.
Persons:
Jerome Powell's, Brent
Organizations:
Federal, West Texas Intermediate, Financial
Locations:
Wilmington, Long Beach , California