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The Midday Take - Energy Market Briefing
Global Markets

Energy Market Briefing

Bakken Wire Staff·🔆Midday Wire·
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DAILY ENERGY BRIEFING Wednesday, August 26, 2026

1. Headlines

Oil prices are modestly higher midday, with WTI trading at $82.79 and Brent at $87.73. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a minimal 100,000-barrel build in commercial crude inventories for the week ending August 21, bringing stockpiles to 428.9 million barrels. This figure was significantly lower than the 4.2-million-barrel build reported the day prior by the American Petroleum Institute (API), creating a notable data discrepancy. The EIA report showed a 2.5-million-barrel draw in gasoline inventories.

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