Oil eases on rate-cut worries

Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday as a large, surprise build in US gasoline stocks and worries about the outlook for US interest rates next year outweighed easing supply concerns from a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. Brent crude futures were down 42 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $72.39 a barrel by 1:20pm ET (1820 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 51 cents, or 0.7pc, to $68.26. US gasoline stocks rose by 3.3 million barrels in the week to 212.2 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration said, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a draw of 46,000 barrels. Crude stocks fell by 1.8 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 22, the EIA added, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a draw of 605,000 barrels. Market sources, citing the American Petroleum Institute, had said on Tuesday that oil inventories fell by 5.94 million barrels and fuel inventories rose last week.