
Key Takeaways:
*Oil rebounded strongly after Tuesday’s sharp selloff, with WTI climbing above $82 recovering part of the previous session’s nearly 5% decline.
*The API reported a 3.3 million-barrel draw in U.S. crude inventories, indicating tighter supply conditions and shifting attention to the official EIA inventory report for confirmation.
*Renewed geopolitical tensions supported crude prices after the U.S. intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles, while Iran-backed militias reportedly launched fresh drone attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities.
Crude oil prices rebounded sharply after suffering their steepest three-day decline in weeks, with WTI climbing back above $82 per barrel and Brent recovering toward $87 during early Asian trading. The recovery was initially driven by tighter U.S. supply expectations after the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported a 3.3 million-barrel draw in U.S. crude inventories for the week ended July 24, significantly offsetting concerns triggered by Tuesday’s nearly 5% selloff. While gasoline and distillate inventories recorded modest increases, the sharp decline in crude stockpiles suggested underlying demand remains resilient. Investors are now awaiting the official Energy Information Administration (EIA) inventory report for confirmation, as another sizable draw could reinforce expectations of a tighter physical oil market and provide additional support for prices.
Geopolitical tensions also returned to the forefront after the U.S. military intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran targeting American forces in the Middle East, raising fears that the recent pause in hostilities could quickly unravel. Reports also indicated that Iran-backed militias launched drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province oil facilities for a second consecutive day, although Saudi air defenses reportedly intercepted the attacks and no major damage has been confirmed. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts showed limited progress after Iran rejected an Oman-backed proposal to jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz, insisting on retaining control over the strategic shipping lane. With tanker traffic through Hormuz still operating below pre-conflict levels and disruptions across the Red Sea persisting, supply security concerns have once again injected a geopolitical risk premium into crude prices.
Additional support came from reports that OPEC+ is considering pausing further production increases for three months beginning in October, after completing the scheduled return of previously cut output. Such a move would delay additional supply entering the market and help offset ongoing geopolitical risks, particularly as traders continue to monitor disruptions affecting global crude flows. Despite recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting there is a “good chance” of renewed negotiations with Iran, Tehran has denied seeking fresh talks, leaving uncertainty surrounding any diplomatic breakthrough. As a result, oil prices remain highly headline-driven, with sentiment capable of shifting rapidly between optimism over de-escalation and renewed fears of supply disruptions.
Looking ahead, traders will closely monitor three key catalysts that could determine oil’s near-term direction: the official EIA inventory report, further developments surrounding the U.S.-Iran relations and the Strait of Hormuz, and the outcome of today’s Federal Reserve policy meeting. Although markets widely expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged, a hawkish message from Chair Kevin Warsh could strengthen the U.S. dollar and limit further gains in crude by weighing on global demand expectations. Conversely, confirmation of tighter U.S. inventories, continued geopolitical escalation, or a more cautious Fed stance could support further upside for both Brent and WTI. Overall, while recent hopes of de-escalation briefly pushed oil to multi-week lows, the combination of tightening inventories, potential OPEC+ supply restraint, and persistent Middle East tensions suggests volatility is likely to remain elevated in the sessions ahead.
Technical Analysis

Crude Oil, H4:
Crude oil has come under renewed selling pressure after failing to sustain its breakout above the 87.60 resistance level. The rejection from the recent highs triggered a decisive break below the ascending trendline, signaling that the previous bullish recovery has lost momentum and shifting the near-term bias toward a corrective phase.
However, the latest strong bullish candlestick suggests buyers are attempting to defend the 78.05 support zone, indicating that dip-buying interest is beginning to emerge after the recent sell-off. While this rebound may support a short-term recovery, price remains below the broken trendline and key resistance levels, leaving the broader technical outlook cautious.
Momentum indicators remain mixed. RSI has rebounded from near-oversold territory but remains below the neutral 50 level, suggesting that bullish momentum has yet to fully recover. Meanwhile, MACD remains in negative territory, although the histogram has begun to contract, indicating that bearish momentum is gradually easing.
Resistance Levels: 87.60, 95.80
Support Levels: 78.05, 68.90
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