WTI has added $0.15, as Brent sits $0.25........>

OIL: WTI has added $0.15, as Brent sits $0.25 better off, with both crude

metrics flirting with their YtD highs.

- Bullish inventory data supported crude on Wednesday, with a "surprise"

headline drawdown in crude inventories noted in the latest weekly DoE inventory

report, in a similar vein to Tuesday's API estimate. Elsewhere, Cushing stocks

moderated, with gasoline stocks experiencing a larger drawdown than expected, as

distillate stocks edged higher. U.S. crude production edged back from record

levels in the latest week.

- General optimism surrounding OPEC+ production pact compliance, the ongoing

U.S. sanctions against certain nations that produce crude and continued

questions re: Venezuelan supply also aided crude on Wednesday.

- Overnight, RTRS sources suggested that "the United States aims to cut Iran's

crude exports by about 20 percent to below 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from

May by requiring importing countries to reduce purchases to avoid U.S.

sanctions."