Crude oil prices have mounted a slow-and-steady uptrend since the beginning of the year. The U.S.-based West Texas Intermediate (WTI) benchmark is up nearly 23% since bottoming below $68 per barrel (bbl) in mid-December 2023. Its near-term consolidation range just below the $83/bbl mark puts it at the highest in almost five months. A weekly update on inventory flows from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is expected to show that stockpiles fell for a third week straight, shedding 1.28 million barrels. Downstream, gasoline stocks are expected to see the eighth consecutive week of outflows, losing 1.65 ... (full story)