At 440.5 million bbl, US crude oil inventories are 3% above the 5-year average for this time of year

Industrial production declined 0.2 percent in July. Manufacturing output decreased 0.4 percent last month and has fallen more than 1-1/2 percent since December 2018. In July, mining output fell 1.8 percent, as Hurricane Barry caused a sharp but temporary decline in oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. EIA - Crude oil production from the major US onshore regions is forecast to increase 85,000 b/d month-over-month in August from 8,683 to 8,768 thousand barrels/day, gas production to increase 729 million cubic feet/day from 80,866 to 81,595 million cubic feet/day .

U.S. natural gas demand is rising as power generators shut coal plants and burn more gas for electricity and as rapidly expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals turn more of the fuel into super-cooled liquid for export.

Russian gas sales on Gazprom Export's Electronic Sales Platform (ESP) rebounded above 100 million cu m in Thursday's auction, continuing a trend of steady strong sales on the platform this month.

U.S. Rig Count is down 8 rigs from last week to 934, with oil rigs down 6 to 764, gas rigs down 2 to 169, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is up 3 rigs from last week to 140, with oil rigs up 3 to 94 and gas rigs unchanged at 46.

The UK's Royal Navy will work with the US to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of Defence said.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $55.2 billion in June, down $0.2 billion from $55.3 billion in May, revised.

U.S. Rig Count is down 4 rigs from last week to 942, with oil rigs down 6 to 770, gas rigs up 2 to 171, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is up 10 rigs from last week to 137, with oil rigs up 6 to 91 and gas rigs up 4 to 46.

The US will impose a 10% tariff on the remaining $300 billion worth of Chinese goods September 1, when trade talks between the two countries resume, President Donald Trump said Thursday.