Group 1 - The international crude oil market experienced a rebound after hitting a nearly five-month low, with WTI crude oil futures closing at $61.42 per barrel, up over 5% for the week, and Brent crude oil futures at $64.87 per barrel, up over 7% [1] - The rebound was driven by two main factors: a recovery demand following a prolonged decline in oil prices and rising geopolitical risks, particularly due to new sanctions imposed by the U.S. and EU on Russian oil companies [1] - The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against two major Russian oil companies, coinciding with the EU's approval of its 19th round of sanctions against Russia, leading to concerns about supply disruptions in the oil market [1] Group 2 - Recent inventory data from EIA and API indicated a decline in U.S. commercial crude oil, gasoline, and distillate inventories, with a slight recovery in refinery utilization and crude processing [2] - Current U.S. crude oil inventories are down 0.75% year-on-year and 4% lower than the five-year average, while gasoline and distillate inventories are also below historical levels [2] - Analysts suggest that despite predictions of a significant supply surplus in the global oil market next year, the current spot market remains relatively strong, influenced by OPEC+ production not meeting expectations and potential underestimation of demand [2] Group 3 - The oil market is currently in a phase of short-term geopolitical advantages versus long-term supply-demand fundamentals, with ongoing OPEC+ production increases not leading to a significant decline in U.S. oil output [2] - The future trajectory of oil prices will depend on the market's ability to recover from recent disruptions, including Russia's response to sanctions and the stance of buyers like India [2] - Overall, while the trend for oil prices in the fourth quarter is expected to shift downward, high volatility is anticipated, requiring traders to manage positions carefully [2]