Oil prices and energy stocks fell sharply on Friday morning as the U.S. pushed for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Analysts, however, remain doubtful that the peace plan, which is thought to be favorable toward Moscow, would be backed by Kyiv.
Easing geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine are weighing on prices, and any peace deal could have broader implications for the crude market, ANZ said.
The Department of Interior proposed 34 offshore oil lease sales through 2031. The Trump program would include lease sales in 21 areas off Alaska's coast, six off the Pacific coast and seven in the Gulf of Mexico.
Crude oil carved another lower high ($60.22) and low ($58.72) Thursday, staying inside the developing bull flag while retesting $58.24–$58.94 support.
Geopolitical tensions and a surprise 3.4M-barrel EIA draw lift sentiment as natural gas and oil forecast trends tighten inside key technical ranges.
Crude oil inventories decreased last week by 3.4 million barrels as exports increased and refineries ran at a higher rate, said the EIA.
Crude oil slides sharply on Wednesday, trading well below $60 as both WTI and Brent struggle against persistent overhead pressure from the 50-day EMA. Markets appear focused on establishing a range rather than collapsing, with rallies still favored for fading.
Oil prices fell on Wednesday as an industry report showing crude and fuel inventories rose last week in the U.S., the world's biggest crude consumer, reinforced mounting concerns that supply is exceeding demand in the market.
Oil fell in the morning Asian session amid risk-off sentiment.
Crude oil consolidates in a bull flag just above the 61.8% Fibonacci, with the 20-day average turning higher and the falling 50-day converging on the flag's upper boundary near $61.30.
Crude oil futures struggle below key averages as Russian flows resume and China builds inventories, reinforcing a bearish oil outlook driven by surplus concerns.
Oil declined in the early Asian session after oil tanker activity resumed at Russia's Novorossiysk port.