Brent oil tops $45 on sliding US stockpiles

Bloomberg

Oil climbed to a five-month high in London, topping $45 a barrel after US industry data showed a decline in the
nation’s stockpiles.
Brent futures gained for a fourth day, rising as much as 2.6% to the highest price since March 6. The American Petroleum Institute reports 8.59 million-barrel drop in crude inventories last week.
The international benchmark moved above its low from March 6 in European trading hours, closing a so-called price gap that was formed on that day, a move that traditionally leads to additional buying. Over the same period, West Texas Intermediate rose above its 200-day moving average for the first time since January.
Oil resumed gains after rallying from a plunge below zero in April but rising coronavirus infections raised concerns about a sustained recovery in consumption. Opec+ is set to test market by returning some supply this month after historic output curbs, but a persistently weaker dollar and the recovery in equity markets has helped market draw out further gains.

“Oil prices are rising, pricing in what looks like a sizable decline in US crude inventories,” said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy.
European equities and US futures advanced on signs American lawmakers are making progress on an economic aid package, while the dollar continued to grind lower, adding further support to crude markets.
A Bloomberg survey shows US crude stockpiles probably fell by 3.35 million barrels last week. That would be the third weekly decline in four weeks if confirmed by official data from the Energy Information Administration later on Wednesday. American shale drillers have signaled the end of output growth, with Diamondback Energy Inc.’s chief executive officer saying there are currently no market signals that such growth is needed.
“I am not so sure if Brent will maintain its consolidation above the $45 level,” said Kevin Solomon, an analyst at brokerage StoneX Group. “The significant weakness in the U.S. dollar has helped oil prices remain buoyant despite the stalled oil demand recovery.”