WTI corrects below $77.00 as investors turn anxious ahead of Caixin Manufacturing PMI

• The oil price has extended its correction to near $76.60 amid anxiety among investors ahead of Caixin Manufacturing PMI.
• Rising bets for a sheer economic recovery in China after the rollback of lockdown curbs are supporting an upside in PMI figures.
• A build-up of oil inventories by oil inventories at 6.20 million barrels, reported US API, is indicating weak demand.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), futures on NYMEX, have corrected firmly after facing firmer barricades above $77.50 in the late New York session. The oil price has dropped $76.60 and is expected to remain on the tenterhooks as investors are awaiting the release of the Caixin Manufacturing PMI data for fresh impetus.

There is no denying the fact that global institutions and investment banking firms are gung-ho for solid economic recovery in China after its administration dismantled pandemic controls post a three-year lockdown period. China’s post-pandemic era is expected to be resilient as the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has promised a sheer revival in domestic demand through expansionary monetary policy.

Investors were surprised by weak January’s Caixin Manufacturing PMI data and are now anxious for February figures as a continuation of a downbeat spell will spoil the market mood. Broadly, the market sentiment is still risk averse as investors are anticipating a gloomy outlook due to hawkish Western central banks. And, now weak China’s Manufacturing PMI will worsen investors' risk appetite further.

According to the consensus, IHS Markit will report Caixin Manufacturing PMI at 50.2, higher than the prior release of 49.2.

Apart from the Caixin Manufacturing PMI, the oil inventory report by the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) for the week ending February 24 will be keenly watched.

On Tuesday, the US American Petroleum reported a huge pile of oil inventories at 6.20 million barrels but lower than the prior release of nearly 10 million barrels. Oil stockpiles are continuously rising for the past three months, indicating a sheer decline in the overall demand.