United States Oil Fund

May WTI Crude Oil Contract Closes Down US$1.30; Settles at US$96.57 per Barrel

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Lean Lower Premarket Friday

Energy stocks were leaning lower premarket Friday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) declining by 0.3%.The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 1.3% and The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.2% lower.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was 0.1% higher at $97.95 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil declined 0.2% to $95.68 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 0.2% at $2.68 per 1 million British Thermal Units.ConocoPhillips (COP) has sent a team to Venezuela to evaluate the prospects of oil drilling in the country, several media outlets reported, citing a company statement. Shares of ConocoPhillips were marginally higher pre-bell.Petrobras (PBR) said it signed contracts with Petronas Petroleo Brasil to acquire 50% stakes in the Tartaruga Verde and Espadarte - Module III fields in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil for $450 million, regaining full ownership in the assets. Petrobras shares were up 1% premarket.EQT (EQT) and Glencore (GLEN) committed to acquiring an extra 1 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually from Commonwealth LNG through 20-year agreements, Reuters reported, citing a regulatory document. EQT stock was 0.6% lower pre-bell.

Exchange-Traded Funds Higher, Equity Futures Mixed Pre-Bell Amid Lingering Geopolitical Uncertainty, CPI Focus

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.1% higher in Friday's premarket activity amid lingering geopolitical uncertainty and the release of consumer inflation data.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.03%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.04%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.1% before the start of regular trading.US consumer prices rose 0.9% in March, in line with expectations, compared with a 0.3% gain in the prior month.The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index for April and the factory orders data for February are due to be released at 10 am ET.In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 0.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) gained 0.3%.Power Play:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated marginally by 0.01%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.8%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was inactive. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slipped 0.4%.Telix Pharmaceuticals (TLX) stock was up more than 9% premarket after the company said the US Food and Drug Administration accepted its resubmitted new drug application for its investigational glioma imaging agent Pixclara.Winners and Losers:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was flat and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.8%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) advanced 0.4%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was down 0.4%.Shake Shack (SHAK) shares were up more than 3% pre-bell after Mizuho upgraded the company's stock to outperform from neutral and lifted its price target to $120 from $100.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.2%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 0.6%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 0.8% higher.SLM (SLM) shares were up more than 2% pre-bell. RBC cut the company's price target to $28 from $32 while maintaining its outperform rating.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 0.2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.2% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.01%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 0.7% higher, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 0.7%.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) shares were up more than 2% in premarket activity after the company reported higher Q1 net revenue.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.3%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.3% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after Goldman Sachs raised its price target to $61 from $69.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was flat, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was down by 0.2%.Eni (E) stock was up nearly 1% before Friday's opening bell after the company said it has invested $70 million in Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG). Nouveau stock was down 9%.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 0.1% to reach $97.95 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated by 1.5% to $2.63 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down by 1.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.2% lower.Gold futures for May were down by 0.6% at $4,790.50 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined by 0.9% to $75.76 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.01% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) advanced by 0.3%.

Oil Edges Lower Amid a Shaky Ceasefire Between the U.S. and Iran as Israel Continues to Attack Lebanon

Oil prices edged lower early on Friday amid doubts over the state of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States as Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.West Texas Intermediate crude oil for May delivery was last seen down US$0.29 to US$97.58 per barrel, while June Brent oil was down US$0.27 to US$95.65.A fragile two-week ceasefire for the United States' war on Iran reached this week looked more uncertain on Friday as Iran is said to be refusing to attend peace talks scheduled to be held this weekend in Pakistan as long as Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon. Reports on Thursday said Israeli Prime Minister plans to open talks with Lebanon but its attacks on Hezbollah militants in the country continue."Western outlets have reported that the Iranian delegation has already arrived in-country while some Iranian outlets dispute this claim, continuing to suggest that the talks are conditional on a ceasefire with Lebanon where Israel / Hezbollah continue to trade strikes," Tudor, Pickering, Holt analyst Matt Portillo wrote.Iran continues to block the passage of tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point for exports from the region that supplies 20% of daily oil demand. The closure of the Strait has pushed oil futures up 41% since the start of the conflict, but spot prices have risen even more, reaching a record high this week as buyers hunt for supply."The physical market remains relatively supported as traders resist significant revisions in differentials in the near term, largely opting for a "show me" mentality despite speculation over the future of Strait of Hormuz transits swirling in oil markets. While Dated (spot) Brent trimmed from Tuesday's all-time record of $144.42/bbl (assessed at $124.68/bbl on April 8) and Middle Eastern cash differentials waned, Atlantic Basin crudes have continued to see strength as limited prompt availability of cargoes remains," Christopher Louney, a commodities strategist at RBC Capital Markets, wrote.

Brent Crude Up 0.5% at US$96.40 and NY Crude Up 0.7% at Near US$98.60

NY Crude Up 0.9% at Near US$98.75

Crude Oil Prices Rise as Attacks on Saudi Infrastructure Exacerbate Supply Concerns

Crude oil prices rose on Friday amid concerns about recent attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and its impact on global supply.Brent crude at last look gained 1% to US$96.89/barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 0.9% to $98.83/barrel. Prices are still expected to record weekly losses amid market optimism about the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and Israel signaling a potential diplomatic opening, Reuters said in a Friday report.Attacks on Saudi facilities have cut its oil production capacity by about 600,000 barrels per day and throughput on the East-West Pipeline by about 700,000 bpd, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, citing an official source at the Ministry of Energy.Meanwhile, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was well below 10% of normal volumes on Thursday despite the ceasefire, Reuters reported.Mukesh Sahdev, founder & CEO of energy consultancy XAnalysts, said in the Reuters report that the "key variable now is how flows through the Strait of Hormuz actually resume - not whether they reopen."

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Lower Pre-Bell Thursday as Fragile Middle East Ceasefire Lifts Oil Prices

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was down 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.3% lower in Thursday's premarket activity as doubts over the durability of a Middle East ceasefire lift oil prices.US stock futures were also lower, with S&P 500 Index futures down 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipping 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures retreating 0.4% before the start of regular trading.US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 219,000 in the week ended April 4 from an upwardly revised 203,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to 210,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.Personal income declined 0.1% in February following January's 0.4% gain, compared with the expected 0.3% gain in a survey conducted by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET.US economic growth, measured by gross domestic product, was revised lower to a 0.5% increase in Q4 from a 0.7% gain in the second estimate, compared with estimates for no revision in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET.Wholesale inventory data for February are due to be released at 10 am ET, followed by weekly natural gas stocks data at 10:30 am ET.In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 0.3%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.2% lower, Ether ETF (EETH) fell 1.5%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.Power Play:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) retreated marginally by 0.01%, while the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.01% higher, and the iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was up 0.5%. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) lost 0.1%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 1.3% lower.Simply Good Foods (SMPL) shares were down more than 19% pre-bell after the company posted lower fiscal Q2 adjusted earnings and net sales.Winners and Losers:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) retreated 0.6%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was down 1.7%, while its bearish counterpart Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ) was 1.9% higher.Whitestone REIT (WSR) shares were up more than 11% pre-bell after the company said it has agreed to be acquired by Ares Management (ARES) for $19 per common share or operating partnership unit in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.70 billion. Ares stock was 1.5% higher.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) retreated 0.2%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.1% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was down 0.1%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was inactive, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) declined by 0.3%.Aehr Test Systems (AEHR) shares were down more than 2% in premarket activity, a day after the company said it plans to sell up to $60 million of its common shares via an at-the-market offering.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) retreated by 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was down 0.1%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.7% lower.Novartis (NVS) stock was down more than 1% premarket after closing the prior session with a 2% gain. The company said Thursday it will expand its programs to find and treat patients with heart disease and cancer in "hard-to-reach" communities worldwide.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) declined by 0.7%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) gained 0.4% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was down 0.8%.American Airlines Group (AAL) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell, a day after the Federal Aviation Administration said the airline should pay a $255,000 civil penalty for allegedly breaching drug and alcohol regulations.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.2%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) advanced by 0.5%.Occidental Petroleum (OXY) stock was up more than 1% before Thursday's opening bell after the company said it had discovered oil at the Bandit prospect, co-owned by Chevron (CVX) and Woodside Energy (WDS), in the Gulf of Mexico. Chevron stock was 0.8% higher, while Woodside advanced 0.5%.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 4.4% to $98.57 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas retreated by 0.2% to $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was up by 2%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.3% lower.Gold futures for May were up by 0.1% at $4,781.00 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures declined by 1% to $74.60 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.4% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) advanced by 0.03%.