Singapore, Dec 29: Oil prices fell in Asia on Monday giving up some of last week’s sharp gains as concerns of a global supply glut weighed on prices ahead of fresh US stocks data.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in February was down 27 cents at USD 37.83 and Brent crude for February was trading 17 cents lower at USD 37.72 a barrel at around 0320 GMT.
Prices jumped last week after data showed an unexpected fall in US commercial crude stockpiles, with WTI adding almost 10 percent.
News the US will resume exports after a 40-year ban also helped to drive the country’s benchmark to a premium over London-traded Brent, which is seen as a measure of global prices.
Analysts predict the US Energy Information Administration will report another fall in US crude stockpiles on Wednesday, an indication of stronger demand in the world’s top oil consumer.
Further evidence of continued draw-down in the US crude oil inventory could strengthen WTI in the near term and widen its spread over Brent.
Oil prices have been under pressure since 2014 due to concerns about a persistent glut in world supplies and weak demand.
The US export ban was imposed in 1975 to protect US energy supplies after the Arab oil embargo shook the American economy.
