WTI Oil climbs as US-Iran standoff keeps Middle East supply risks elevated

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices surged to their highest level in over three weeks on Wednesday due to ongoing Middle East supply risks. The US benchmark was trading around $85.20 per barrel, up nearly 1% for the day. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that crude oil inventories increased by 4.405 million barrels in the week ending August 14, surpassing market expectations of a decline of 0.6 million barrels.

Negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which remains closed since the expiration of a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, have not produced significant progress. US President Donald Trump affirmed that no discussions or scheduled negotiations are taking place with Iran, though he hinted at potential future talks.

Despite this, shipping activity through the Strait remained limited, with only six commodity vessels crossing on Tuesday. Technical analysis indicates bullish momentum, with WTI holding above key moving averages and showing positive indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD).

Should WTI break above the 100-day SMA near $86, it could potentially reach the July high of $92.25. Conversely, support levels are identified at the 21-day SMA around $82 and the 200-day SMA near $76. Various factors, including global economic growth, political instability, OPEC decisions, and the US Dollar's value, influence WTI oil prices.

The weekly inventory reports from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) provide crucial insights into supply and demand dynamics.