Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade Thursday, extending recent declines as traders braced for higher U.S. crude production under President Donald Trump. Brent futures slipped 0.3% to $78.80 per barrel, while WTI futures fell 0.2% to $75.27.
Crude prices have dropped from six-month highs as uncertainty surrounding Trump’s energy and trade policies loomed. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas further eased geopolitical risk premiums. Meanwhile, cold weather across the U.S. and Europe increased heating demand, supporting prices. U.S. sanctions on Russia also contributed to tighter supply expectations.
American Petroleum Institute data revealed a 1-million-barrel rise in U.S. inventories last week, breaking a five-week streak of draws. Official inventory data due later Thursday could confirm this trend, though analysts expect crude inventories to have declined while product stockpiles grew.
Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency and his rollback of climate-related restrictions aim to boost production, which already hit record highs of 13 million barrels per day in 2024. Increased U.S.


U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 



