Futures for the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded slightly higher on Wednesday before the US inventories data due later in the day. Meanwhile, Brent held below $100 a barrel for the longest losing streak since April 2013 as eyes are on Russian oil companies, with new sanctions expected to be imposed. The North American West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for October delivery added 0.14% to $92.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at the time of writing. While futures for the European benchmark Brent crude for October settlement was seen trading 0.26% higher to $99.42 per barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange based in London. US Crude Stockpiles Report US stockpile report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is expected to be released later in the day and expected to show a decline in crude inventories in the US, the world’s largest oil consumer by 1.033 million barrels to 358.1 million in the last week. WTI is expected to average $94.67 a barrel in 2015, compared to forecasts of $96.08 made in August, while projections for Brent crude is expected to average to $103 a barrel next year from $105, the EIA said in its monthly short-term Energy Outlook. A separate report from the American Petroleum Institute released on Tuesday showed that the crude supplies in the US fell by 1.9 million barrels, while gasoline inventories increased by 719,000 barrels last week. Ukraine Tensions in Ukraine eased after agreeing to a truce with pro-Russian separatists last week as the latest European Union sanctions against Russia targeting Russian oil companies, could weigh on crude prices. In Libya, the oil output rose to 747,000 barrels a day, Mohamed Elharari, spokesman for National Oil Corp said on Tuesday.

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