“West Texas Intermediate crude rose for a second day in New York, trading near its highest level in a week after U.S. stockpiles dropped the most this year.
Futures climbed as much as 0.8 percent after gaining 0.5 percent yesterday. U.S. crude supplies slid by 6.3 million barrels last week, the most since December, data from the Energy Information Administration showed yesterday. They were projected to decline by 800,000 barrels, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Monthly U.S. jobs data will be released tomorrow. The European Central Bank and Bank of England kept their benchmark interest ratesunchanged.
“The weekly inventory data yesterday surprised quite a bit,” Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen, said by phone today. “We have the U.S. monthly job report tomorrow and central bank meetings today, so there’s potential for a bit of position squaring.”
WTI for July delivery advanced as much as 72 cents to $94.46 a barrel, and was at $94.27 a barrel, up 53 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:01 p.m. London time. The volume of all futures traded was 14 percent above the 100-day average. The contract rose 43 cents yesterday to $93.74, the highest close since May 28.
Brent for July settlement increased 16 cents to $103.20 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The European benchmark grade was at a premium of $8.90 to WTI futures, down from $9.30 yesterday.
