Summary:
Oil prices rose as tensions escalated in the Middle East after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas, setting the stage for weekly gains.
Oil prices rose in early trade on Friday, on track for weekly gains, with tensions flaring up in the Middle East after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas.
Both benchmarks rose about 3% in the previous sessionafter Israeli forces bombedthe southern border city of Rafah. That came despite international efforts towards a peace deal.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered troops to "prepare to operate" in the city, after rejecting what he labelled Hamas's "bizarre demands" in truce talks.
Elsewhere Russia surprisinglyexported more crude than planned this month amid a spate ofdrone attacks by Ukraine, which could undermine the country’s pledge to curb output under an OPEC+ pact.
Crude inventories rose by 5.5 million barrels in the week ended 2 Feb, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 1.9 million barrels. Refinery crude runs fell tothe lowest since Jan 2023.
It expects oil will rise into the mid-$80s area in the coming months, but will experience downward price pressure in the second quarter of this year as global oil inventories increase.
Brent crude is pressed by its 200 SMA negatively and, above that level, we see strong resistance at $84. It will likely approach $76 again if failing to hold above $80 on a potential reversal.
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