Oil prices little changed as expectations for OPEC+ increase weigh
Oil futures were little changed on Wednesday as markets weighed expectations from more supply from major producers next month, a softer U.S. dollar and a mixed bag of economic and market indicators from the U.S., the world's largest oil consumer.
Brent crude was up 2 cents at $67.13 a barrel at 0345 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1 cent to $65.44 a barrel.
Brent has traded between a high of $69.05 a barrel and low of $66.34 since June 25, as concerns of supply disruptions in the Middle East producing region have ebbed following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
Also weighing on prices, sources said American Petroleum Institute data late on Tuesday showed U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 680,000 barrels in the past week at a time when stockpiles typically draw amid the summer demand season.
Four OPEC+ sources told Reuters last week the group plans to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day next month when it meets on July 6, a similar amount to hikes agreed for May, June and July.
The market is already seeing the results of the previous OPEC+ increases with Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, lifting shipments in June by 450,000 bpd from May, according to data from Kpler, its highest in more than a year.
Source: Reuters
