Brent crude futures LCOc1 were down 61 cents, or 1.20 percent, at $50.18 a barrel as of 0417 GMT. Prices hit $50.17 earlier in the session, the lowest in about three weeks. U.S. crude CLc1 was at $49.27 per barrel, down 69 cents, or 1.38 percent, from its settlement on Tuesday.
“Crude is on the defensive this morning following American Petroleum Institute (API) inventory numbers showing a rise of 4.8 million barrels against an expected rise of 1.7 million,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA in Singapore.
Official data by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is due later on Wednesday.
“EIA crude inventory figures will be closely watched tonight. A large jump in inventories will no doubt see crude pushed lower again,” Halley said.
The oil market is also keeping an eye on U.S. currency movements for trading cues.
The dollar hit a nine-month peak overnight against a basket of currencies .DXY, underpinned by expectations U.S. rates will rise by the year-end, making commodities priced in the greenback expensive for holders of other currencies. [USD/]
According to Michael McCarthy, a CMC Markets analyst, Brent could drop further to $49.67, the next support level. Traders said squabbles within the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, about a planned output cut later this year were weighing on oil markets too.
“Technical resistance with Brent above $50 might (also) be driving some activity,” he said.
