Oil falls to $107 as inventories surge 6.2 million barrels, well above estimate

Weekly crude oil inventories jumped 6.2 million barrels to 311.6 million barrels for the week ending March 7, 2008, well above the consensus estimate, the U.S. Energy Information Agency announced Wednesday. Weekly gasoline inventories increased 1.7 million barrels, while distillate supplies fell 1.2 million barrels.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected weekly oil inventories to rise by 1.7 million barrels. Oil futures fell about $1 to $107.02 per barrel immediately after the news.

Refineries operated at 85.0% of their operable capacity last week, compared to 85.9% in the previous week. However, analysts are quick to point out that some decline in refinery capacity is expected in late winter and early spring as refineries undertake maintenance and convert systems for gasoline production to get ready for the summer driving season, historically a period of high gasoline consumption in the United States.

Oil Analysis: Another bearish weekly inventory report for oil, but don't tell that to oil traders in the trading pits. Driven by institutional investors (and other investors) seeking a lucrative return on assets in the face of likely under-performing stocks and bonds, oil has to-date largely ignored a two-month rise in inventories in the largest oil consuming market, the United States, to trade at record highs. Currently, there's little hard evidence to suggest the pattern will change anytime soon.