Crude prices recorded highs in the middle of the European session trading today, Wednesday, February 8th, in gains for the third consecutive session, as US crude (NYMEX) is trading at $77.88 per barrel, up by 0.98%, while Brent crude is trading at an increase of 0.79%, at levels of 84.35. Dollars per barrel amid anticipation in the markets for the official reading of inventories later today.

The report of the American Petroleum Institute had shown in the preliminary reading of inventories, issued on Tuesday, that US stocks had declined in the past week ending on the first of February, by 2.1 million barrels. In details, gasoline stocks increased by about 5.2 million barrels, and distillate stocks, which include heating fuel and diesel, increased by about 1.1 million barrels.

During today’s American session, the markets are awaiting official figures from the US Energy Information Administration, as it is estimated that inventories rose by about 2 million barrels last week.

Temporary interruption of supplies from the Turkish port of Ceyhan, which amounts to about one million barrels per day, due to the earthquake, in addition to the closure of the BTC terminal that exports Azerbaijani oil and strikes in oil refineries in France are all additional factors supporting crude prices.