Markets · Commodities
Crude oil (WTI & Brent): News, Analysis & Educational Trade Ideas
Crude oil benchmarks · latest OpenBook briefings, educational trade ideas and a plain-English guide to what moves this market.
What is Crude oil (WTI & Brent)?
Crude oil is priced through two main benchmarks: West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark traded on NYMEX, and Brent, the international benchmark traded on ICE. Both are quoted in US dollars per barrel.
Oil prices feed directly into fuel costs, inflation and the earnings of energy companies, so moves in crude can ripple through stock indices, bond markets and commodity currencies such as the Canadian dollar.
What drives Crude oil (WTI & Brent)
- Production decisions by OPEC+ and output from other major producers, including the US.
- Inventory data, such as the weekly US Energy Information Administration (EIA) report.
- Global demand and economic growth, especially in the US and China.
- Geopolitical events in producing regions and shipping routes, plus the US dollar.
Trading hours and sessions
WTI and Brent futures trade nearly 24 hours a day from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon ET, with a short daily break. The weekly EIA petroleum inventory report, usually released on Wednesdays, is a regular point of volatility.
Check live quotes on the OpenBook markets board. Hours shown in US Eastern Time (ET) and may shift around holidays and daylight-saving changes.
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Crude oil (WTI & Brent) FAQ
What is the difference between WTI and Brent?
WTI is the main US crude benchmark, traded on NYMEX, while Brent is the main international benchmark, traded on ICE. They track different crude grades and delivery locations.
What moves oil prices?
Supply decisions by OPEC+ and other producers, inventory levels, global demand, geopolitics and the US dollar.
How can US residents get exposure to oil?
Common routes are oil futures on regulated US exchanges, energy ETFs and shares of energy companies. Oil CFDs are not available to US retail clients.
Are OpenBook Crude oil (WTI & Brent) trade ideas signals or investment advice?
No. OpenBook trade ideas are algorithmic, educational market ideas generated from public price data. They are not recommendations to buy or sell, do not consider your personal circumstances and are not investment advice. Some idea details are reserved for OpenBook Pro.