Oil Slips as WTI Settles at US$100.30; Ecopetrol and YPF Gain
Key Facts
- West Texas Intermediate settled at US$100.30 a barrel, down 1.58%, while Brent settled at US$103.87, down 0.91%.
- The crude tracking fund closed at US$153.82, down 0.96% on the day and 0.70% over the week.
- Petrobras fell 0.67% to US$20.80, while Ecopetrol rose 1.15% to US$17.58 and YPF gained 0.88% to US$54.96.
- The American oil rig count stood at 452 on Friday, up two from the prior week, according to Baker Hughes.
- Brazil’s mid-month inflation reading is due on Friday 25 September, with the year-on-year consensus at 4.5% against 4.24% prior.
- Mexico’s central bank sets its policy rate on Thursday 24 September, with the prior level at 6.5%.
Today’s Focus
Crude gave back part of its recent advance on Friday. West Texas Intermediate settled at US$100.30 a barrel, down 1.58%.
Brent settled at US$103.87, down 0.91%. The crude tracking fund closed at US$153.82, down 0.96%.
The fund remains 17.5% higher over the past month. It is still well above its 50-day average of US$132.53.
The Latin American producers did not move together. Petrobras fell 0.67% to US$20.80 while Ecopetrol rose 1.15% to US$17.58.
YPF gained 0.88% to US$54.96. Baker Hughes reported 452 oil rigs on Friday, up two from the prior week.
WTI added 0.25% over the five sessions. Brent lost 0.71% over the same stretch.
What matters today. The three Latin American producers diverged on a day when crude fell. Petrobras tracked the commodity lower while Ecopetrol and YPF moved against it.
| Instrument | Level | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Ibovespa (Brazil) | 185,229.17 | -0.41% |
| S&P 500 (US) | 7,650.50 | +0.17% |
| Nasdaq Composite (US) | 26,523 | +0.39% |
| VIX (US volatility) | 14.81 | -4.08% |
| USD/BRL | 5.1445 | +0.30% |
| Gold (per ounce) | US$4,380.01 | +0.77% |
| Silver (per ounce) | US$66.35 | +1.41% |
| Oil fund (USO) | US$153.82 | -0.96% |
Friday, 18 September 2026 close. Gold, silver and the oil fund in US dollars.
01 The session in one read
Crude slipped on Friday but held above the round numbers that have framed the past month. West Texas Intermediate settled at US$100.30 and Brent at US$103.87.
The daily declines were modest. WTI lost 1.58% and Brent 0.91%, both settling above the levels that would signal a deeper break.
The crude fund has retreated from its 52-week high of US$163.35. It closed at US$153.82, still 17.5% above its level a month ago.
WTI added 0.25% over the five sessions. Brent lost 0.71% over the same stretch.
The fund’s 14-day reading is 75.4. That places it in territory that has often preceded a pause.
The dollar was almost unchanged. The dollar index closed at 100.215, down 0.03%.
02 The board
| Instrument | Level | Session | Week | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude fund (USO) | US$153.82 | -0.96% | -0.70% | A fund share price, not a barrel price |
| West Texas Intermediate | US$100.30 | -1.58% | +0.25% | Held the hundred-dollar line |
| Brent crude | US$103.87 | -0.91% | -0.71% | Second benchmark also eased |
| Petrobras (PBR) | US$20.80 | -0.67% | -1.89% | Tracked the commodity lower |
| Ecopetrol (EC) | US$17.58 | +1.15% | -0.96% | Moved against the crude price |
| YPF (YPF) | US$54.96 | +0.88% | -1.06% | Argentine producer also gained |
The first line is the one readers most often misread. US$153.82 is the price of a fund share, not of a barrel of oil.
The producers split in direction. Petrobras followed crude down while Ecopetrol and YPF rose.
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-5.38%
| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLD | 4,073 | +0.85% | +1.32% | 4,038 | 4,079 | 4,002 | 117,083 |
| SILVER | 54.49 | +0.70% | +17.02% | 54.11 | 54.64 | 52.71 | 34,428 |
| BRENT | 109.58 | -5.38% | +66.99% | 115.81 | 111.92 | 109.00 | 34,268 |
| WTI | 100.12 | -1.61% | +63.30% | 101.76 | 102.82 | 99.77 | 201,568 |
| COPPER | 6.65 | +2.24% | +29.44% | 6.51 | 6.66 | 6.54 | 37,751 |
| LITHIUM | 62.43 | +1.89% | +5.14% | 61.27 | 62.62 | 61.56 | 130,024 |
| IRON ORE | 161.91 | — | +53.37% | 161.91 | 161.91 | 1 | |
| SOY | 1,250 | +0.70% | +17.12% | 1,241 | 1,262 | 1,249 | 156,494 |
| CORN | 450.25 | -1.04% | +5.01% | 455.00 | 455.00 | 449.75 | 143,350 |
| WHEAT | 614.75 | -0.20% | +16.87% | 616.00 | 618.50 | 610.00 | 51,884 |
| COFFEE | 294.35 | -2.19% | -24.54% | 300.95 | 304.90 | 289.05 | 16,022 |
| SUGAR | 19.26 | +0.84% | +33.20% | 19.10 | 19.42 | 19.03 | 74,161 |
| COCOA | 5,581 | +1.66% | -9.72% | 5,490 | 5,622 | 5,444 | 13,619 |
| ORANGE JUICE | 143.20 | +5.45% | -26.07% | 135.80 | 148.80 | 142.50 | 1,394 |
| COTTON | 77.90 | -1.47% | +20.66% | 79.06 | 81.07 | 80.01 | 20,308 |
| BEEF | 230.73 | +0.33% | +0.83% | 229.98 | 231.58 | 229.75 | 13,888 |
| CATTLE | 346.40 | -1.00% | +0.26% | 349.90 | 349.70 | 346.33 | 5,755 |
| USD/BRL | 5.34 | -1.32% | -0.84% | 5.42 | 5.42 | 5.30 | — |
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03 What moved it
Crude fell because traders judged the Saudi supply disruption less severe than first feared. Reuters said China, at Saudi Arabia’s request, asked Iran to curb Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
Reports said Saudi Arabia sought to restore about half the East-West pipeline’s capacity within days. Bloomberg reported on 16 September that full capability was targeted in about six weeks.
Reuters reported on 17 September that three pumping stations were hit. Repairs could take five to six weeks.
The EIA reported a crude draw of 640,000 barrels to 423.4 million barrels in the week to 11 September. That was smaller than the 1.6 million expected.
Baker Hughes reported oil rigs up two to 452. Total American rigs rose four to 595.
04 The Latin American read
The dollar closed at 5.1445 reais, up 0.30% on the day and 0.46% over the week. The Colombian peso was the weakest of the three, with the dollar up 1.11% on the day and 2.10% over the week at 3,166.69.
The dollar ended at 17.221 Mexican pesos, up 0.31% on the day and 1.46% over the week. Against the Chilean peso it slipped 0.31% to 958.97 on the day but rose 1.75% over the week.
Petrobras fell 0.67% to US$20.80 but is still up 12.19% over the past month. Its 14-day reading is 68.3, and the shares sit above both moving averages.
Ecopetrol rose 1.15% to US$17.58 but has fallen 1.73% over the past month. Its 14-day reading is 63.1.
YPF gained 0.88% to US$54.96 and has lost 1.06% over the week. Its Friday gain came on a day when WTI fell 1.58%.
05 The names to watch
Petrobras shares are 12.19% higher over the past month and sit above both moving averages. The stock closed at US$20.80 on Friday.
Ecopetrol’s 14-day reading is 63.1, below Petrobras at 68.3. The Colombian producer closed at US$17.58.
YPF closed at US$54.96 and has lost 1.06% over the week. It rose 0.88% on Friday while crude fell.
The crude fund’s 14-day reading is 75.4. It closed at US$153.82, down 0.96% on the day and 0.70% over the week.
Reuters reported on 18 September that crude had rallied earlier on the attack on the East-West pipeline. A faster Saudi repair would remove the premium that has lifted Petrobras 12.19% over the past month.
The EIA inventory report on Wednesday 23 September is the next test of that premium. The prior week showed a draw of 640,000 barrels.
06 The outlook
The API reports crude stocks on Tuesday 22 September at 17:30 Brasília time. The prior change was a build of 7.14 million barrels.
The EIA reports crude stocks on Wednesday 23 September at 11:30 Brasília time. The prior change was a draw of 640,000 barrels.
Baker Hughes updates the rig count on Friday 25 September. The prior reading was 452, up two on the week.
The CFTC publishes crude speculative positions on Friday 25 September. The prior net long was 135.9 thousand contracts.
Brazil publishes its mid-month inflation reading on Friday 25 September. The year-on-year consensus is 4.5% against 4.24% prior.
Mexico sets its policy rate on Thursday 24 September. The prior level is 6.5%.
07 What to watch
- The API crude stocks: Due Tuesday 22 September at 17:30 Brasília time, after a prior build of 7.14 million barrels.
- The EIA crude stocks: Due Wednesday 23 September at 11:30 Brasília time, after a prior draw of 640,000 barrels.
- The American rig count: Updated Friday 25 September after Friday’s reading of 452, up two on the week.
- CFTC crude positions: Due Friday 25 September, after a prior net long of 135.9 thousand contracts.
- Brazil’s mid-month inflation: Due Friday 25 September, with the year-on-year consensus at 4.5% against 4.24% prior.
- Mexico’s rate decision: Due Thursday 24 September, with the prior policy rate at 6.5%.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where did oil settle on Friday 18 September 2026?
West Texas Intermediate settled at US$100.30 a barrel, down 1.58%. Brent settled at US$103.87, down 0.91%.
What is the USO price of US$153.82?
That is the share price of a fund that tracks crude, not the price of a barrel. It fell 0.96% on Friday.
How did the Latin American producers move?
Petrobras fell 0.67% to US$20.80. Ecopetrol rose 1.15% to US$17.58 and YPF gained 0.88% to US$54.96.
What was the American rig count?
Baker Hughes reported 452 oil rigs on Friday 18 September, up two from the prior week.
How did the benchmarks perform over the week?
WTI added 0.25% over the five sessions. Brent lost 0.71% over the same period.
What data is due next week?
Brazil publishes mid-month inflation on Friday 25 September. Mexico sets its policy rate on Thursday 24 September.
Sources: RT end-of-day series for USO, PBR, EC, YPF, EWZ, EWW, ILF, VALE, SLX, LIT and CPER; CNBC on the Friday WTI and Brent settlements; EnergyNow on the weekly benchmark changes; Reuters on the China request and the pipeline damage; Bloomberg on the repair timetable; the EIA on crude inventories; Baker Hughes on the rig count; RT economic calendar for the week of 21-25 September 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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