Crude oil futures inched higher on Friday, supported by a surprise drop in U.S. oil inventories and simmering Middle East tensions, but prices were headed for their biggest weekly loss in more than a month on worries of lower demand.
Both contracts settled higher on Thursday for the first time in five sessions after data from the Energy Information Administration showed that U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week.
"Speculative positioning across the ICE Brent complex strengthened from historically low levels, on heightened geopolitical risk of a potential Israeli strike on Iran's oil infrastructure," Citi analysts said in a note.
Citi expects global oil demand to slow to 900,000 bpd in 2025 from 1 million bpd this year on an economic slowdown and as more electric vehicles hit the road.
The "potential impact of China's emerging economic stimulus plans on oil demand is uncertain, and more robust support may only result in a limited boost," it added.
Persons:
Brent, WTI
Organizations:
Brent, West Texas, Energy, Administration, of, Petroleum, International Energy Agency, ICE, Citi
Locations:
San Joaquin Valley, McKittrick , California, OPEC, Israel, Iran