By Nicole Jao
(Reuters) -Oil prices settled 1% lower on Wednesday after a smaller-than-expected draw in stockpiles and as concerns over Chinese demand persisted, though losses were capped by supply risks in the Middle East and Libya.
futures settled down 90 cents, or 1.13%, at $78.65 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $1.01, or 1.34%, to $74.52.
Prices lost more than 2% on Tuesday, having gained 7% over the previous three days to more than $81 a barrel for Brent and $77 for WTI.
U.S. crude inventories dropped by 846,000 barrels to 425.2 million barrels last week, data from the Energy Information Administration showed, less than analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a draw of 2.3 million barrels. Refining activity rose during the week.
“It is a little surprising to see such a small crude draw if refinery runs were really that strong, at a six-week high,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler. “Ongoing strength in imports and a tick lower in exports helped keep the draw in check,” he added.
China demand worries also continued to weigh on prices as recent data pointed to a struggling economy and slowing oil demand from refiners.
“Demand in China remains weak and the expected second-half rebound has yet to show credible signs of commencing,” Amarpreet Singh, an analyst at Barclays, said in a note.
ONGOING SUPPLY RISKS
The potential loss of Libyan oil output and the possible expansion of the Israel-Gaza conflict to include Iranian-backed militants from Hezbollah in Lebanon remained the largest risks to oil markets, limiting the price declines on Wednesday.
Several oilfields across Libya have halted output as a dispute continues between rival government factions over control of the central bank and oil revenue. The dispute puts about 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of production at risk.
The Libyan disruptions should tighten the oil market, considering real barrels are removed, but here investors want to see a drop in Libyan crude exports first, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS.
In the Middle East, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas militants, with no signs yet of a concrete breakthrough in ceasefire talks in Cairo.
Over the weekend, Israel and Hezbollah bombarded each other with rockets and missiles across the Lebanese border.
Geopolitical risks will continue to put world crude oil prices on edge, said Tim Snyder, chief economist at Matador Economics.