What is WTI? | FBS Glossary

What Does WTI Mean?

WTI means West Texas Intermediate. The name comes from the extraction source as Texas is the state located in the middle part of the US, but oil sites are in the west part of it. The world calls WTI the “light sweet oil” due to its structure.

The “lightness” comes from the low density of the oil. Also, WTI contains a meager amount of sulfur, making it easier to refine. Sulfur lowers the yield of various refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and even plastics. Thus, the price for this oil is usually higher, making it more profitable.

Development of the Physical WTI Market

Before 1981, the US controlled the spot market for WTI. After the price decontrol, WTI acquired several trading centers in various US states. Later in the 1990-s, oil prices collapsed, and production shrank in Cushing (one of the WTI producers). The collapse came along with the rise of the WTI spot and futures markets. Futures helped a lot in decreasing the volatility of the oil because they act as a hedging tool. Now, WTI is one of the best oils in the market, thanks to its’ quality and profitability.

The Relevance of WTI Trading at a Given Time

WTI is one of the leading indicators of oil price, along with Brent and Dubai Crude. Traders and investors worldwide watch the WTI price closely to analyze the upcoming economic fluctuations. There is a widely accepted opinion that oil price comes in tandem with inflation. The rising cost of commodities boosts the expenses for energy-intensive companies, increasing the price of the undertaken goods and materials. However, some researchers deny the correlation between oil prices and inflation.

WTI has one of the most considerable trading volumes across all commodities. Thus, the slippage in trading is minimal, and the spreads are tight. Try trading WTI oil on a demo account to check it yourself.

WTI vs. Brent

Investors often compare WTI to Brent crude, an oil benchmark for two-thirds of the world’s oil contracts based on oil extracted in the North Sea. WTI has a higher quality than Brent, so it’s expected to be a little more expensive. However, that is not always true. While these oils trade at similar price points, each one has its unique supply and demand market, and therefore its price reflects its individual market fundamentals.

Conclusion

Both WTI and Brent are great options for commodity trading as they both reflect the price of essential assets. News like OPEC meetings and geopolitics move the price significantly and provide us with many opportunities to trade on the WTI news. Try it out by yourself on a demo account and unleash the potential of oil trading!

Back

2022-09-19 • Updated

Frequently asked questions

What is crude oil?

Crude oil is the primary commodity from the energy sector. It is much more than a resource that allows us to have petrol, gasoline, and other chemical components – it’s a geopolitical asset. That’s why its price fluctuates a lot due to a number of factors, and potentially provides a lot of investment and trading opportunities. You can trade two primary brands of crude oil with FBS: WTI and Brent.
How to trade crude oil?

Technically, you trade oil the same way as any other asset. Fundamentally, you need to understand the oil market drivers. First, it’s the global oil demand. OPEC’s regular meetings shed light on that so you just have to follow the cartel’s announcements. Second, geopolitical agreements – you won’t miss that as political events such as Russia and Saudi Arabia discords or the US shale are widely covered in the media. As for the market sentiment, technical analysis is applicable here, too.
How to open an FBS account?

Click the ‘Open account’ button on our website and proceed to the Personal Area. Before you can start trading, pass a profile verification. Confirm your email and phone number, get your ID verified. This procedure guarantees the safety of your funds and identity. Once you are done with all the checks, go to the preferred trading platform, and start trading.
How to start trading?

If you are 18+ years old, you can join FBS and begin your FX journey. To trade, you need a brokerage account and sufficient knowledge on how assets behave in the financial markets. Start with studying the basics with our free educational materials and creating an FBS account. You may want to test the environment with virtual money with a Demo account. Once you are ready, enter the real market and trade to succeed.