Oil prices steadied on Wednesday, after rising in the previous two sessions, as investors await the U.S. Federal Reserve's anticipated interest rate cut, with the potential for more violence in the Middle East supporting the market. "Markets have calmed down as concerns over hurricane damage and escalating tensions in the Middle East have been factored in," said Mitsuru Muraishi, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities. "Now, investors are focusing on the Fed's rate cuts which could revitalize U.S. fuel demand and weaken the dollar," he said, predicting that oil prices are likely to maintain a bullish tone after Brent hit its lowest since 2021 last week. Traders kept bets the Fed will start an expected series of interest rate cuts with a half-percentage-point move downward on Wednesday, an expectation that may itself put pressure on central bankers to deliver just that. Oil stockpiles rose by 1.96 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 13, according to market sources citing the API figures, but gasoline and distillate stocks both rose by about 2.3 million barrels.

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Persons: Hurricane Francine, Mitsuru Muraishi, Brent, Biden Organizations: U.S, U.S . Federal, Brent, Fujitomi Securities, Traders, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, U.S . Energy Locations: U.S ., U.S, Israel, Lebanon, Beirut