Oil prices rise as US crude and fuel inventories seen shrinking

U.S. crude inventories fell for four weeks ending July 19, pushing Brent to $81.47 and WTI to $77.38. API confirmed declines; official data pending. Prices previously hit a six-week low due to Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks. Economic concerns in China also persist, marking the first four-week crude decrease since September 2023.