Oil Prices Rise in Asia ahead of U.S. Supply Report
Oil prices edged higher in Asia Wednesday as investors await the latest U.S. supply report for clues about demand in the world's biggest crude consumer.
The U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in July, gained 14 cents to $102.80 a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for July was up seven cents to stand at $108.89 in afternoon trade.
"Crude oil prices edged just a tad higher... as traders look ahead to the key U.S. Department of Energy weekly report," Singapore's United Overseas Bank said in a note to investors.
The official weekly U.S. stockpiles report Wednesday is expected to show inventories dipped 100,000 barrels on average in the week to May 30, according to a Wall Street Journal survey of 13 analysts.
A decline in U.S. inventories usually indicates healthy demand in the world's biggest economy, which would in turn support global crude prices.
U.S. petroleum products were forecast to show gains, including a 300,000 barrel increase in gasoline inventories.
Investors are also monitor the situation in Ukraine, where government forces and pro-Russian insurgents have been embroiled in skirmishes for weeks in the east, although fighting has so far not expanded into a full-fledged civil war.
The West has accused Russia of fomenting unrest in its neighbour since the ousting of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych in February. Moscow denies the allegation.
Investors fear a full-blown conflict in Ukraine, a conduit for a quarter of European gas imports from Russia, will disrupt supplies and send energy prices soaring.
Analysts say the risk premium associated with the crisis has slightly eased after Russia gave Ukraine a respite of an extra week until June 9 to make payments for gas imports at an increased price set after Yanukovych was ousted.
Source: Agence France Presse
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