Oil futures jumped as EIA reported drop in U.S. crude oil inventories

Recap: Oil futures jumped for the third straight session after the Energy Information Administration reported a 2.1 million barrel drop in U.S. crude oil inventories, marking the sixth straight weekly decline. Oil prices rose despite hefty builds in crude oil inventories held at Cushing, OK and builds in both gasoline and distillate inventories - not even a lower equities market could keep oil prices down. The draw in crude oil is not so surprising this time of year as companies look to shed taxable assets from their books as the year end approaches, as taxes are assessed on volume and the prices of crude oil inventories. February WTI settled at $77.85 a barrel, up 86 cents, or 1.1%, while March Brent added 80 cents, or 1%, to close at $80.80 a barrel. February RBOB settled at $2.292 a gallon, up 0.7%, while February heating oil rose 1.5%, to $2.2446 a gallon.        

Technical Analysis:  The main trend in WTI is still to the upside, according to the charts. The push over the November 24 high of $77.85 reaffirmed the trend. WTI remains trending within the symmetrical triangle and is just within reach of the upper line, which is currently set at $78.70. A solid break above this line sets up for a run at the projected move of $87.89. A dip below $74 will reverse the trend, with additional support set at $73.59 and below that at $71.39.

Fundamental News:  The U.S. EIA reported that crude oil prices increased in 2021 as global petroleum demand outpaced supply growth.  The spot price of Brent crude began 2021 at $50/barrel and increased to a high of $86/barrel in October before declining as the year ended.  The annual average of Brent for 2021 was $71/barrel, the highest in the past three years.  WTI crude prices averaged $3/barrel less than Brent for the year. 

According to the EIA, U.S. gasoline stocks in the week ending December 31^st increased by 10.1 million barrels, the most since April 2020, when the pandemic first hit the U.S. Gasoline stocks fell to 232.8 million barrels.  One-week gasoline demand fell by the most since April 2020, possibly as retailers worked down inventories after a pre-holiday buildup.  New York Harbor gasoline inventories recovered to their highest levels since July.  Higher local refinery output, increasing imports from Europe and maximum pipeline supplies from the USGC contributed to the build in inventories. 

Barclays maintained its 2022 oil price forecasts for Brent crude at $80/barrel and expects OPEC+ to slow the pace at which it restores output to 200,000 bpd a month this year given expectations of an impending surplus.  It said the full year demand impact from Omicron will be 100,000 to 200,000 bpd concentrated mostly in the first quarter. 

Commerzbank said that even as OPEC+ decided to stick with its plan to increase production by another 400,000 bpd in February, oil prices increased as the market interpreted the decision as a sign that the alliance sees low risks to oil demand posed by the omicron variant. 

Rapidan Energy Group’s President, Bob McNally, said oil prices may fall to $70 to $75/barrel this year as stockpiles build with production increases. 

Citi’s Head of Commodities, Ed Morse, sees an oil surplus at the end of 2022.

IIR Energy reported that U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in 188,000 bpd of capacity in the week ending January 7^th, increasing available refining capacity by 114,000 bpd.

Early Market Call - as of 8:00 AM EDT
WTI - Feb $79.18, up $1.33
RBOB - Feb $2.3073, up 1.52 cents
HO - Feb $2.4759, up 2.98 cents

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