West Texas
Intermediate oil tumbled for the fourth time in five days as
Prices
dropped as much as 2.2 percent after the Energy Information Administration said
output climbed to 7.2 million barrels a day, the most since July 1992, and
gasoline and diesel demand decreased. Crude output gained 0.4 percent in the
week ended April 12, the EIA, the Energy Department’s statistical arm,
reported. Gasoline consumption dropped for a second week to 8.38 million
barrels a day. Demand for distillate fuels, including diesel and heating oil,
tumbled 5.9 percent to 3.63 million barrels a day.
Crude
stockpiles decreased 1.23 million barrels to 387.6 million last week, the EIA
said. They were at the highest level since July
Oil
extended losses as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid a day after the
biggest rally in three months and the dollar strengthened against the euro.
BNP Paribas
reduced its 2013 forecasts for Brent and WTI to reflect the price drop in the
first quarter. It trimmed its 2013 Brent estimate to $108 a barrel from $115
and WTI to $95 from $100, while advising investors to bet on a rebound in the
second half of the year.
WTI for May delivery fell to $86.06 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent for
June settlement slipped $1.99, or 2 percent, to $97.92 a barrel on the London-based
ICE Futures Europe exchange. The contract touched $97.85, the lowest intraday
level since July 11.