Nymex Crude Drops to 2013 Low as Stockpiles Rise
02/21/2013| 03:12pm US/Eastern
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--Increase in U.S. crude stockpiles sends U.S. oil futures lower
--Nymex crude settles at 2013 low
--Domestic oil stockpiles rise to highest level since July, EIA data show
By Jerry A. DiColo
NEW YORK--U.S. crude futures fell 2.5% Thursday to the lowest settlement this year after weekly government data showed an increase in domestic oil stockpiles.
The Energy Information Administration said oil stockpiles increased by 4.1 million barrels last week, above analysts' average forecast of a 1.7-million-barrel increase. The rise sent total stockpiles to 376.4 million barrels, the highest level since July, as an increase in both imports and domestic output coincided with a fall in refinery operations.
Crude stockpiles are at the highest level for this week since the EIA began keeping data in 1982.
The figures, coupled with weak data on U.S. jobs and the euro-zone economy, raised concerns among oil investors that a tepid economic outlook and rising fuel prices could lower oil usage.
Light, sweet crude for April delivery settled $2.38 lower at $92.84 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange for April delivery traded $1.593 lower at $113.67 a barrel.
Gasoline futures also settled lower despite a decline in stockpiles of the fuel. Stockpiles fell by 2.9 million barrels, the EIA said, a larger drop than the 700,000-barrel decline analysts expected. Stocks of distillate, which include heating oil and diesel, fell by 2.3 million barrels.
Front-month March reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, settled 2.30 cents, or 0.8%, lower at $3.0365 a gallon.
The data followed weak economic data earlier Thursday. The Labor Department said U.S. jobless claims rose last week, highlighting the slow recovery in the labor market. Additionally, the decline in euro-zone business activity accelerated in February, according to data compiler Markit, which economists say likely means the bloc's economic contraction will continue through the first quarter.
Oil markets are tied to the global economic outlook, as weak growth typically results in sagging demand for gasoline, diesel and other fuels.
March heating oil settled 6.06 cents, or 1.9%, lower at $3.0957 a gallon.
More information on settlements and highs and lows for futures on Nymex and ICE platforms can be found by searching for the following headlines:
Nymex Light Crude Oil Close
Nymex Harbor RBOB Gasoline Close
Nymex Heating Oil Close
ICE Brent Crude Oil Close
ICE Gas Oil Close
Write to Jerry A. DiColo at jerry.dicolo@dowjones.com
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