Oil Falls After Industry Report Shows Higher U.S. Oil, Gasoline Supplies

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Oil fell after an industry-funded report showed an increase in U.S. crude and gasoline stockpiles, signaling a recovery in fuel demand may falter.

Oil declined for the sixth day in seven after an American Petroleum Institute report showed crude supplies increased 5.87 million barrels and gasoline inventories rose 2.03 million barrels last week. An Energy Department report today may show that crude stockpiles dropped 1 million barrels, according to a Bloomberg News survey.

“Industry data showed builds in crude and crude product inventories, against expectations of draw-downs,” Mark Pervan, head of commodity research at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Melbourne, said in a note today.

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Crude oil for September delivery dropped as much as 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $75.43 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $75.53 at 9:50 a.m. Singapore time. Futures rose 0.7 percent yesterday to $75.77. Prices are up 9.2 percent from a year ago.

The Energy Department report may show U.S. gasoline supplies declined 375,000 barrels last week, according to the Bloomberg News survey. The report is scheduled to be released at 10:30 a.m. in Washington today.

The API collects stockpile information on a voluntary basis from operators of refineries, bulk terminals and pipelines. The government requires that reports be filed with the Energy Department for its weekly survey.

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Industrial Production

Oil rose yesterday as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained and the dollar slipped, boosting the appeal of commodities as an investment.

Crude was also supported by a report that production in the U.S. rose more than forecast in July. Output at factories, mines and utilities climbed 1 percent after a 0.1 percent decline in June, led by a rebound in auto making, figures from the Federal Reserve showed yesterday.

Economists had forecast a 0.5 percent gain in overall production, according to the median of 74 economist estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.

Brent crude oil for October settlement dropped 30 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $76.63 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe Exchange, and was at $76.68 at 9:38 a.m. Singapore time. Yesterday, the contract rose $1.30, or 1.7 percent, to $76.93.