OPEC ministers meeting in Vienna on Wednesday should have an easy time deciding to leave well enough alone, while emphasizing worries and vigilance and setting another meeting date.
We were up on heating oil in the morning, but ended the day down closer to the levels some would expect given the data (on crude supplies),
There has been a rising floor underneath oil prices, ... Last year we were worried about $40 a barrel oil, and now $60 a barrel is the worry.
The bottom line is that the overall stocks are huge. But the tightening in stockpiles is finally beginning.
This is a big issue - ultra low sulfur diesel is really easy to contaminate.
It's an important shot across the bow of oil markets because it signals the administration is willing to intervene in the market. The volumes are small but $75 a barrel seems to have triggered a sensitive point.
It's patently obvious that the Saudis, as the world's largest producer, could lead prices lower by offering lower prices,
Data are slow to arrive, as is normal at this time on the calendar, but already it is clear that this year is not off to a flying start in terms of demand growth. Inventories are high in many places as well.
The big wild card this year is that there's little to no room for anything to go wrong. And certainly nothing like a refinery blowing up or a hurricane hitting the coast.
Gasoline demand, I think, is the single most bullish number in the entire (EIA) report,
This is all-around bearish. Demand numbers were so-so and import numbers were big,
(The group) is trying to calm the market.