Crude oil prices gained around 1% on Tuesday before thin pre-Christmas trading on Wednesday as crude oil inventories in the U.S. are estimated to decline and Sino-American phase one trade deal is set to be signed.
International benchmark Brent crude jumped 1.22% on Tuesday to end the day at $67.20 per barrel and American benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose 1.01% to finish the session at $61.13 a barrel.
Global markets are mostly closed for session on Wednesday due to Christmas holiday break.
Crude oil inventories in the U.S. are estimated to decrease by 7.9 million barrels for the week ending Dec. 20 to 444.1 million barrels, according to American Petroleum Institute (API) data released on Tuesday.
Official data for change in weekly crude oil inventories will be released on Friday, instead of the usual Wednesday, by the U.S.' Energy Information Administration (EIA) due to Christmas break.
On the demand side, the phase one trade deal between the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies and oil consumers, is expected to be signed before the new year.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that his country and China will hold a formal ceremony to sign the phase one trade deal that was reached on Dec. 13.
The ceremony is expected to be held in January after the translation of the 86-page deal, which is yet to be released to the public, is completed by both sides.
By Ovunc KutluAnadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr