Oil slips for first day in three ahead of Fed decision

U.S. crude stocks rose by 1.96 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 13, market sources said on Tuesday citing American Petroleum Institute figures. Gasoline and distillates inventories also increased. Brent crude futures for November were down 54 cents, or 0.7%, at $73.16 a barrel at 0810 GMT. U.S. crude futures for October slid 46 cents, or 0.7%, to $70.73. "Crude traded softer after a weekly build in U.S. crude and fuel stocks, reported by the API, helped offset sustained tensions in the Middle East," Ole Hansen of Saxo Bank told Reuters. Brent has staged a recovery since falling below $70 to its lowest since December 2021 on Sept. 10. It faces resistance at around $75 due to weak global refinery margins that signal sluggish demand, he added. The Federal Reserve is expected to make its first interest rate cut in more than four years at 1800 GMT, with markets pricing a 2/3 probability of a 50 basis point cut. "Probably the uncertainty of the magnitude of the likely Fed rate cut later today is also keeping investors cautious," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.