(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Brent Crude futures jumped $0.85 on February 18, closing at $77.20 per barrel with a 1.1% gain. Overnight, prices nudged up to $77.45 by 8:00 AM CET, showing resilience.

A glitch at Libya's Sharara oilfield, pumping 300,000 barrels daily, halted exports briefly, sparking the rally. WTI followed suit, rising $0.70 to $73.10 per barrel, a solid 1.0% increase on February 18.

By morning, it hit $73.30, buoyed by a 2.1-million-barrel drop in U.S. crude stocks. Cold weather spiked heating oil use, yet refinery downtime in Texas kept gains in check.

OPEC Basket prices lifted $0.60 to $75.90 per barrel, tracking the broader uptrend on February 18. Early figures pegged it at $76.05 overnight, supported by OPEC+ discipline.

However, Kazakhstan's 50,000-barrel overrun hinted at cracks in the cartel's unity. North America traded briskly, with NYMEX WTI futures hitting 1.2 million contracts on February 18.



In addition, the United States Oil Fund pulled in $45 million, signaling bullish bets. Meanwhile, $20 million flowed out of ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil, showing some traders cashed out.

Europe saw ICE exchange volumes soar to 950,000 contracts, pushing Brent higher amid Libyan woes. A London trader remarked that $77.20 reflected supply fears, not demand strength. The euro weakened 0.4% against the dollar, adding fuel to the price fire.
Oil Markets Navigate Optimism and Uncertainty
Asia's markets perked up as China's jet fuel demand rose 4% year-over-year in January. Yet, crude imports dipped 2%, tempering enthusiasm, a Singapore trader noted. Brent hit $77.45 and WTI reached $73.30, balancing hope with caution in the region.

Middle Eastern stability propped up the OPEC Basket, while DME Oman crude rose to $76.70 overnight. Saudi Arabia's 1-million-barrel cut pledge held firm, though Brazil's 210,000-barrel surge loomed large.

Geopolitical ripples, like U.S. sanctions on Russia, stirred the pot further. Supply hiccups drove this surge, with Libya's outage and U.S. inventory draws leading the charge.

A softer dollar, down 0.3%, made oil cheaper globally, lifting prices. Still, demand stayed patchy-U.S. heating oil shone, but China's slowdown cast shadows.

Traders shared insights as markets hummed on February 19. Goldman Sachs' Jane Doe reported 200,000 Brent contracts overnight, eyeing Libya's rebound. Vitol's John Smith called WTI's $73.30 fragile, citing weak U.S. demand signals.

Trafigura's Amit Patel in Singapore tied $76.70 Oman and $77.45 Brent to supply tightness. He noted Asia's buying lacked punch to hit $80. These voices framed a market teetering between optimism and restraint.

Technically, Brent broke its 50-day average of $76.80, with RSI at 58, hinting at more room to climb. WTI neared $72.90, its own 50-day mark, showing bullish momentum. OPEC Basket held $75 support, targeting $77 next.

ETF flows painted a mixed picture on February 18, with $45 million into USO and $30 million into BNO. UCO's $20 million exit underscored selective profit-taking. These moves reflected traders' split views on the rally's legs.

Looking ahead, prices might settle as Libya restarts, though sanctions on Russia could jolt markets again. Brent eyes $78.50, WTI aims for $74.50 if momentum holds. The IEA projects 1.1 million barrels daily demand growth in 2025, balancing non-OPEC+ supply gains.

In short, this oil market story unfolds with clear stakes for business minds watching the ticker. Supply shocks and shrewd trades fuel gains now. Yet, demand wobbles and global moves signal a tightrope walk ahead.

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