Crude Dragged Lower as U.S. Production Hits Record, Equities Dip

Oil Extends Gain on Trade Report, Limited Rise in U.S. Stockpile

Jessica Summers

22 Feb 2019, 12:48 PM IST

(Bloomberg) -- Oil declined for the first time in more than a week after U.S. government data showed an increase in both crude stockpiles and production and as the commodity tracked moves in the equity market.

Futures fell 0.4 percent in New York on Thursday. The Energy Information Administration reported nationwide crude stockpiles rose for a fifth straight week and production skyrocketed to 12 million barrels a day, a record-high. Crude’s moves also mirrored the S&P 500 Index, which dipped lower.

“We’re seeing a little stabilization in broad asset prices, whether it’s equities, which are a little off today. Commodities are lower as well,” said Brian Kessens, who helps manage $16 billion in energy assets at Tortoise in Leawood, Kansas. The inventory report was “pretty spot on with what consensus was” and production is at “a new milestone.”

Crude Dragged Lower as U.S. Production Hits Record, Equities Dip

Oil has rallied above $57 a barrel this year in New York as OPEC and its allies began implementing output curbs as part of a joint agreement. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said he expects markets to balance by April. Yet, the ongoing U.S.-China trade war has investors concerned about the outlook for global economic growth.

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery slipped 20 cents to settle at $56.96 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Brent for April settlement fell 1 cent to end the session at $67.07 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

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The EIA data showed that crude stockpiles rose 3.67 million barrels last week, while inventories at the Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub increased 3.41 million barrels, the largest build since March 2018. The increase in output is the first rise since the middle of January.

“U.S. crude production finally hit the 12 million barrel-a-day mark and we expect that number to increase in the weeks and months to come as new pipelines in the Permian are coming online,” said Tariq Zahir, a commodity fund manager at Tyche Capital Advisors LLC.

Other oil-market news:
Gasoline futures rose 1 percent to settle at $1.6144 a gallon. U.S. and Chinese negotiators are working on multiple memorandums of understanding that would form the basis of a final trade deal, according to a person briefed on the talks. U.S. crude exports surged to a record level in the week to Feb. 15, rising above those of all but the two biggest OPEC producers, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, writes Bloomberg oil strategist Julian Lee.

Other oil-market news:

Gasoline futures rose 1 percent to settle at $1.6144 a gallon.
U.S. and Chinese negotiators are working on multiple memorandums of understanding that would form the basis of a final trade deal, according to a person briefed on the talks.
U.S. crude exports surged to a record level in the week to Feb. 15, rising above those of all but the two biggest OPEC producers, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, writes Bloomberg oil strategist Julian Lee.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jessica Summers in New York at jsummers24@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Marino at dmarino4@bloomberg.net, Mike Jeffers, Catherine Traywick