Oil prices fall for third day on US crude data

Oil prices fell for a third day on Wednesday after data from an industry body showed US crude stocks rose more than expected last week, while a sell-off in other commodities, stocks and bonds added to investors’ bearish mood.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, was down 44 cents, or about 0.64 percent, at $68.58 a barrel by 7pm, after falling earlier close to a two-week low.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were down 31 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $64.19, after falling to their weakest level in more than a week.

On Tuesday, US crude fell 1.6 percent to close at $64.50 a barrel, with the contract’s decline far outpacing a 0.60-percent drop in the price of Brent.

Prices of both WTI and Brent are still on track for a fifth month of gains.

“The rig count will only continue to rise and the US system will only become more efficient,” said Matt Stanley, a fuel broker at Freight Services International in Dubai.

“I see a correction on the horizon down towards $60 before the inevitable OPEC minister comes out and talks about new cuts,” he added.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with other producers including Russia, have been waging a battle against US shale producers, agreeing to take 1.8 million barrels a day off the market through the end of 2018, according to media reports.

But as prices have risen, US producers have only added rigs after cutting costs, with energy companies adding 12 oil rigs last week, the biggest weekly increase since March.

A report from the American Petroleum Institute late on Tuesday showing crude stocks rose by 3.2 million barrels last week cast a further bearish pall over the market.

US Energy Department data on Wednesday was likely to show an increase in inventories for the first time in 11 weeks.

Analysts polled by Reuters forecast an average 100,000-barrel build in crude stocks.