WTI crude settles up 0.87% at $91.01/barrel

The modest WTI gain, alongside a nearly flat Murban price, suggests market participants are balancing supply concerns against demand signals, with the spread between benchmarks highlighting regional disparities. For energy traders, the key dynamic is whether crude can sustain above the $91 level, as moves in refined products like heating oil and gasoline will offer clues to downstream margins and seasonal demand shifts. The slight uptick in crude, while other contracts hold steady, points to a market in consolidation rather than a decisive trend, making near-term volatility the main watchpoint.