Crude oil futures fell on Thursday as the World Bank cut its global economic growth forecast, ending a two-day rally triggered by a sharp U.S. inventory drawdown. In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank predicted the global economy would expand 2.8 percent this year, below its 3 percent outlook in January, with India recording the biggest growth of major economies for the first time, ahead of slowing China. Front-month Brent crude oil prices were down 13 cents at $65.57 a barrel by 0112 ET, while U.S. crude shed 23 cents to trade at $61.20 a barrel. "Considering China's economic slowdown, we lean towards lower prices today," said Daniel Ang, an analyst at Singapore-based Phillip Futures. In South Korea, the world's No.5 importer of crude oil, the central bank cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to a record-low 1.50 percent in a bid to shield a tottering economy from an outbreak of a deadly respiratory disease. Despite Asia's slowing economies, Iraq on Thursday increased its July official selling price for Basra Light crude following strong demand for the grade last month. Crude prices, however, drew support from a big U.S. stocks drawdown that has boosted the outlook for summer fuel demand. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that crude oil stocks shrank by 6.8 million barrels last week, their largest drop in almost a year and four times more than forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll. Prices in North America have been buoyed recently by high gasoline demand for road vehicles as well as low production in Canada as a result of wildfires. "In Western Canada, crude oil inventories are at their lowest level since October as maintenance shutdowns and wildfires in northern Alberta take their toll on supply," ANZ bank said. The premium for turning U.S. crude into gasoline hit a 2-1/2 month peak on Wednesday as inventories tumbled from seasonal highs and the market anticipated demand growth from the peak summer season for road travel. Source : reuters
