Oil Prices Post Biggest Gain in 2 Months

Data provider Genscape Inc. reported that supplies in Cushing, Okla.—a key storage hub and the delivery point for the benchmark U.S. futures contract—fell by nearly 300,000 barrels between March 31 and April 3, according to a broker. Cushing supplies are at a record, and this is first time those stocks have seen a drawdown in Genscape data since early December, the broker said. The data added to momentum for bulls who have been betting rising demand and other factors would reverse a monthslong decline in oil prices. Markets had already been primed for a rally from news over the long weekend that saw Saudi Arabia raise its official crude oil selling price for Asian buyers and the dollar edging lower in value, both boosting hopes of increasing international demand for oil.

Light, sweet crude for May delivery CLK5, +5.80%  settled up $3.00, or 6.1%, to $52.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was the U.S. benchmark’s biggest day of gains since Feb. 3 and its highest settlement since Feb. 17.

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