3 July 2024
Oil prices remained near a two-month high, with Brent crude holding above $86 a barrel, driven by reports of a significant drawdown in U.S. crude stockpiles. The American Petroleum Institute indicated a 9.2 million barrel decrease last week, potentially the largest since January if confirmed by official data. This year, oil prices have been bolstered by a positive sentiment in equity markets, concerns over an active hurricane season, and geopolitical risks, including tensions in the Middle East and upcoming elections in France, the UK, and Iran. However, concerns about weak U.S. gasoline demand persist.