Likely drop in US refinery activity to push stocks higher

摘要

Relatively low levels of US refinery utilization amid an ongoing maintenance period should keep upward pressure on the country's crude stockpiles, which already sit above 500 million barrels, a record high. Analysts surveyed Monday by Platts expect US crude stocks to have risen 3.2 million barrels last week. If confirmed, that would represent the fifth consecutive weekly build, driven mainly by a slowdown in refinery activity.