Mitrade Insights is dedicated to providing investors with rich, timely and most valuable financial information to help investors grasp the market situation and find timely trading opportunities.

2021

Best News & Analysis Provider

FxDailyInfo

2022

Best Forex Educational Resources Global

International Business Magazine

Insights

News

Commodities

WTI holds steady above $73.50 amid stronger US Dollar, potential supply disruptions

Source Fxstreet

WTI price trades on a flat note near $73.65 in Friday’s early Asian session.
A firmer Greenback undermines the USD-denominated WTI price.
Potential supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions and increasing demands could cap the downside for WTI.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $73.65 on Friday. The WTI price flat lines as the stronger US Dollar (USD) broadly offsets concerns over supply disruptions.

A strengthening of the USD on the cautious stance of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) undermines the WTI price as it makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

FOMC Minutes released on Wednesday showed that the Fed policymakers expressed concern about inflation and the impact that President-elect Donald Trump’s policies could have. Fed officials indicated that they would be moving more slowly on rate reductions because of the uncertainty.

On the other hand, mounting concerns over supply disruptions and increasing demands could support the black gold. The Biden administration plans to impose more sanctions on Russia's oil exports ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.

Data released by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) earlier this week showed the US oil inventory declined last week, signalling rising energy demand amid a harsh winter in the US, Europe, and Asia.

WTI Oil FAQs

What is WTI Oil?

WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.

What factors drive the price of WTI Oil?

Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.

How does inventory data impact the price of WTI Oil

The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.

How does OPEC influence the price of WTI Oil?

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Recommended Articles

Gold Price Analysis Today | Forex Gold Analysis | XAU/USD Analysis - November 11, 2026 Get the latest gold price analysis, forex gold insights, and XAU/USD analysis for November 11, 2026. Read on for the details.

Author Mitrade

Nov 11, Wed

Get the latest gold price analysis, forex gold insights, and XAU/USD analysis for November 11, 2026. Read on for the details.

Bitcoin lost its 200-day average — but the exit started three sessions before the CPI Bitcoin fell 2.5% to about $73,400 on 11 November, an 11-week low, breaking its 200-day moving average near $73,100. The 24-hour liquidation tally reached $632 to $705 million, roughly 82% of it longs. But spot ETF outflows began three sessions earlier and USDT's market cap has shrunk $6.6 billion in 60 days — the leveraged length left before the inflation print did. A double top at 81,890 and 81,080 leaves a measured target of 69,366.

Author Suzie

Nov 11, Wed

Bitcoin fell 2.5% to about $73,400 on 11 November, an 11-week low, breaking its 200-day moving average near $73,100. The 24-hour liquidation tally reached $632 to $705 million, roughly 82% of it longs. But spot ETF outflows began three sessions earlier and USDT's market cap has shrunk $6.6 billion in 60 days — the leveraged length left before the inflation print did. A double top at 81,890 and 81,080 leaves a measured target of 69,366.

Nvidia slid 7.7% after hours while AMD and Broadcom rose — the AI trade changed hands, it didn't break Nvidia closed Wednesday at 173.73, up 2.87%, then fell as much as 8.1% to 159.44 after reports that its board was preparing for a possible leadership change. The same session, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 5.7% with all 30 components higher, CoreWeave jumped 24.7% on 168% revenue growth, and Micron added 11.9%. If AI demand were being repriced, AMD and Broadcom would not be bid. This is a governance discount on one name, and 204.54 — the 200-day average — is the level that settles it.

Author Irene Q.

Nov 12, Thu

Nvidia closed Wednesday at 173.73, up 2.87%, then fell as much as 8.1% to 159.44 after reports that its board was preparing for a possible leadership change. The same session, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 5.7% with all 30 components higher, CoreWeave jumped 24.7% on 168% revenue growth, and Micron added 11.9%. If AI demand were being repriced, AMD and Broadcom would not be bid. This is a governance discount on one name, and 204.54 — the 200-day average — is the level that settles it.

Gold hit a one-year low while central banks bought 321 tonnes — the sellers were never the ones you think Spot gold closed at 3,876 on Thursday, down 2.8% and its lowest close in more than a year, with an intraday low near 3,852. The dollar is at a 19-month high of 103.21 and the 10-year yield is at 5.10%, so the price move is easy to explain. What is harder to explain is who sold: central banks bought 321 tonnes in Q3, the PBoC added for a 24th straight month, ETF holdings are near a record 4,256 tonnes, and roughly 95% of the futures selling came from non-reportable and sovereign-type accounts rather than hedge funds. This piece separates the two books that have to balance.

Author Irene Q.

Yesterday 02: 40

Spot gold closed at 3,876 on Thursday, down 2.8% and its lowest close in more than a year, with an intraday low near 3,852. The dollar is at a 19-month high of 103.21 and the 10-year yield is at 5.10%, so the price move is easy to explain. What is harder to explain is who sold: central banks bought 321 tonnes in Q3, the PBoC added for a 24th straight month, ETF holdings are near a record 4,256 tonnes, and roughly 95% of the futures selling came from non-reportable and sovereign-type accounts rather than hedge funds. This piece separates the two books that have to balance.

Brent rose 3.3% and US crude stocks built 4.66 million barrels in the same week Brent January settled at 95.82, up 3.3%, and WTI at 88.74, up 2.55%, after the US signalled it would not pursue a deal with Iran and attacks on Gulf shipping continued. In the same week, EIA data showed US crude inventories rising 4.657 million barrels against expectations of a 1.1 million draw, with gasoline up another 1.799 million. OPEC output also rebounded 1.96 million barrels a day to 27.16 million in October, led by Saudi Arabia at 10.56 million. This piece separates the geopolitical premium from the physical balance and lays out where each side of the trade is anchored.

Author Irene Q.

Yesterday 03: 06

Brent January settled at 95.82, up 3.3%, and WTI at 88.74, up 2.55%, after the US signalled it would not pursue a deal with Iran and attacks on Gulf shipping continued. In the same week, EIA data showed US crude inventories rising 4.657 million barrels against expectations of a 1.1 million draw, with gasoline up another 1.799 million. OPEC output also rebounded 1.96 million barrels a day to 27.16 million in October, led by Saudi Arabia at 10.56 million. This piece separates the geopolitical premium from the physical balance and lays out where each side of the trade is anchored.

Related Instrument