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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 10 million barrels of futures and options on U.S. diesel and European gas oil over the seven days ending Aug. 8. In the premier NYMEX WTI contract, short positions had been reduced by 91 million barrels or two-thirds since June 27. The total position has risen to a net long of 707 billion cubic feet (47th percentile for all weeks since 2010) up from a net short of 1,061 billion cubic feet (7th percentile) at the end of January. But the surplus had narrowed slowly but progressively from 299 billion cubic feet (+12% or +0.81 standard deviations) on June 30. Related columns:- U.S. diesel prices surge anticipating a soft landing (Aug. 11, 2023)- Crude oil and fuels draw funds as sentiment shifts (Aug. 7, 2023)- Short-covering by hedge funds lifted oil prices (Aug. 1, 2023)- Depleted U.S. diesel stocks attract hedge funds (July 20, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.
Persons: Guan, Brent, John Kemp, Jan Harvey Organizations: Phillips, Los, Los Angeles Refinery, Funds, ICE, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Los Angeles, Carson , California, U.S
REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Crude oil prices continued to climb as Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend its unilateral production cuts and signs of decelerating inflation and a soft landing in the United States improved sentiment among investors. The total position climbed to 563 million barrels (46th percentile for all weeks since 2013) on Aug. 1, up from just 282 million barrels (5th percentile) on June 27. The most recent week saw a significant number of new bullish long positions initiated (+37 million barrels) as well as former bearish shorts closed out (-14 million). If implemented in full, extra cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and Russia would remove a further 115 million barrels from the market between July and September. In the most recent week, funds were buyers of European gas oil (+20 million barrels), Brent (+19 million), U.S. gasoline (+6 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (+3 million).
Persons: Mike Segar, Brent, John Kemp, Mark Potter Organizations: Bayway, REUTERS, ICE Futures, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Petroleum, Traders, U.S ., ICE, U.S . diesel, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Phillips, Linden , New Jersey, U.S, Saudi, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine
Most of the buying was in contracts linked to crude oil (+169 million barrels) with a particular emphasis on NYMEX and ICE WTI (+132 million). Short-covering has helped lift front-month WTI futures prices to over $81 per barrel on Aug. 1 from less than $68 on June 27. European gas oil futures and options have experienced an especially rapid increase in positions over the last four weeks (+29 million barrels). As a result, the net position rose to 41 million barrels (44th percentile) on July 25 from just 12 million barrels (18th percentile) on June 27. Related columns:- Depleted U.S. diesel stocks attract hedge funds (July 20, 2023)- Saudi output cut entices funds back into oil market (July 17, 2023)- Extreme pessimism gripped hedge funds on oil (July 3, 2023)- Is oil market’s glass half-full or half-empty?
Persons: Nick Oxford, , John Kemp Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Connect, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, ICE Futures, ICE, Fund, U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Midland , Texas, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, United States, WTI, Brent, North America, Europe, China
In the most recent week, funds were major buyers of Brent (+48 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (+33 million), European gas oil (+17 million), U.S. gasoline (+12 million) and U.S. diesel (+5 million). Across all six contracts, funds purchased a total of 163 million barrels in the two most recent weeks after Saudi Arabia extended its cut of 1 million barrels per day (b/d) for an extra month. Funds had been buyers in each of the five most recent weeks, purchasing a total of 822 billion cubic feet since June 6. The surplus was little changed from +279 billion cubic feet (+12% or +0.69 standard deviations) on June 6 and was actually up from +44 billion cubic feet (+2% or +0.14 standard deviations) at the end of January. Related columns:- Saudi output cut removes downside risk from oil market (July 12, 2023)- Oil investors less bearish after Saudi output cut extended (July 10, 2023)- U.S. oil and gas production set to turn down later in 2023 (July 5, 2023)- Is oil market’s glass half-full or half-empty?
Persons: Brent, repurchases, John Kemp, Bernadette Baum Organizations: ICE, U.S ., Saudi, Fund, Funds, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi, China, Europe, U.S, Saudi Arabia
Buying was concentrated in crude (+52 million barrels) with purchases of Brent (+25 million) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (+27 million), according to exchange and regulatory records. Elsewhere there were small sales of U.S. gasoline (-3 million barrels) and European gas oil (-4 million) partly offset by purchases of U.S. diesel (+2 million). Russia also pledged to cut production by 0.5 million barrels per day in August to help counter adverse sentiment and boost prices. Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 325 billion cubic feet in the week ending on July 3. The combined position reached a net long of 606 billion cubic feet (45th percentile for all weeks since 2010) up from a net short of 1,201 billion cubic feet (6th percentile) on February 21.
Persons: Brent, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: ICE, U.S ., Funds, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi Arabia, Brent, Russia, North America, Europe, WTI, Saudi
Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 64 million barrels in the six most important petroleum-related futures and options contracts in the seven days ending June 27. Essentially all the sales were concentrated in crude contracts split evenly between Brent (-31 million barrels) and NYMEX and ICE WTI (-33 million barrels). Fund managers had accumulated 136 million barrels of gross short positions in NYMEX WTI, the most since 2017. The slump in WTI positions is likely being intensified by contract changes which have seen WTI crude grades added to the Brent futures contract. From a positioning perspective, extreme pessimism towards crude prices and lopsided positions are creating potential for an explosive rally in future.
Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Brent, John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, OPEC ⁺, ICE, ICE WTI, Fund, Global, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brent, NYMEX WTI, North America, Europe, China, U.S, Iran, Venezuela, distillates
Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 25 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on June 20. The combined position was 346 million barrels (12th percentile for all weeks since 2013) which was essentially unchanged from 350 million barrels on March 28 after the eruption of the U.S. regional banking crisis. Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsIn the most recent week, funds bought Brent (+16 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (+5 million) and European gas oil (+9 million) but sold U.S. gasoline (-2 million) and U.S. diesel (-4 million). The position in crude (268 million barrels, 8th percentile) is basically unchanged since late March and the position in middle distillates (22 million barrels, 29th percentile) is unchanged since early April. But economic growth is decelerating across North America, Europe and China, dampening expected consumption of oil.
Persons: John Kemp, Mark Potter Organizations: U.S, Brent, ICE, U.S . diesel, Funds, Saudi, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi Arabia, distillates, OPEC, North America, Europe, China, U.S
Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 21 million barrels of crude oil options and futures but purchased 18 million barrels of products, including 14 million of distillates, over the week ending on June 13. The biggest rotation has been from U.S. crude to European gas oil, reflecting the rise in crude inventories in the United States while stocks of distillates, used heavily in Europe, remain well below normal around the world. The most recent weekly increase in gas oil positions was the largest for almost two years since August 2021 and before that November 2020. Funds had already built a fairly sizeable position in U.S. diesel and now bullishness is starting to spill over into European gas oil. U.S. commercial crude oil inventories were 16 million barrels (+4% or +0.28 standard deviations) above the prior ten-year seasonal average on June 9.
Persons: , John Kemp, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: ICE, Funds, diesel, Saudi, Thomson, Reuters Locations: United States, Europe, NYMEX, U.S, Freeport LNG, Saudi
Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 28 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on June 6. Funds bought Brent (+22 million barrels), U.S. diesel (+7 million) and European gas oil (+4 million) but sold NYMEX and ICE WTI (-2 million) and U.S. gasoline (-3 million). Portfolio investors are especially bearish about crude, with a net position of 269 million barrels (7th percentile) and a long-short ratio of 2.39:1 (14th percentile). The hedge fund community has become especially bearish about the outlook for European gas oil given indications the region is already in recession. Funds were net short by 12 million barrels (3rd percentile) with a long-short ratio of 0.73:1 (2nd percentile).
Persons: Saudi Arabia’s, WTI, , John Kemp, Alexander Smith Organizations: Investors, Funds, U.S ., ICE, Bloomberg, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Saudi, China, U.S, Riyadh, OPEC, Freeport
LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - Portfolio investors had become increasingly bearish about the outlook for oil prices in the run up to the meeting of the extended OPEC⁺ group of oil exporters on June 3-4. The combined position had been reduced to 296 million barrels (7th percentile for all weeks since 2013) down from 534 million (39th percentile) six weeks earlier. Heavy sales of NYMEX and ICE WTI (-50 million barrels) more than offset significant buying of ICE Brent (+23 million). Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 140 billion cubic feet over the seven days ending on May 30, according to regulatory data. The surplus was essentially unchanged from a surplus of +266 billion cubic feet (+15% or +0.61 standard deviations) in early March.
Persons: , John Kemp, David Evans Organizations: OPEC ⁺, ICE, U.S ., Investors, Thomson, Reuters Locations: OPEC, WTI, Saudi Arabia, U.S
Hedge funds and other money managers sold the equivalent of 17 million barrels in the six most important futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on May 9. The combined position was cut to just 285 million barrels (6th percentile for all weeks since 2013) down from 534 million barrels (38th percentile) on April 18. Funds sold the equivalent of 37 billion cubic feet over the seven days to May 9, taking total sales over the most recent three weeks to 206 billion cubic feet. The combined position slipped to 120 billion cubic feet net short (28th percentile for all weeks since 2010) down from 87 billion cubic feet net long (35th percentile) on April 18. The surplus was basically unchanged from +256 billion cubic feet (+15% or +0.60 standard deviations) eight weeks earlier on March 5.
As a result, the combined position had been reduced to just 302 million barrels (7th percentile for all weeks since 2013) on May 2 from 534 million barrels (38th percentile) on April 18. The position has essentially returned to where it was on March 21 (289 million barrels, 2.16:1) before OPEC⁺ surprised investors by announcing production cuts on April 2 totalling more than 1 million barrels per day. Chartbook: Oil and gas positionsThe most recent week saw sales across the board in Brent (-69 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (-37 million), European gas oil (-24 million), U.S. diesel (-11 million) and U.S. gasoline (-4 million). Fund managers had become especially bearish on middle distillates such as diesel and gas oil, the most exposed to the business cycle. Funds sold the equivalent of 71 billion cubic feet over the seven days ending on May 2, after selling 99 billion cubic feet the week before.
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