
Oil settled higher in thin holiday trading as traders bet that colder weather across the US and Europe would lift diesel and natural gas demand. US ULSD futures rose 2.5% to their highest level since early November, and US natural gas reached its highest since January 2023.
Cold-weather demand expectations lift crude and distillate prices, which raises input costs for freight, fertilizer and fuel across feed supply chains.
After 24 past bullish weather events, Crude Oil (Brent) moved a median +2.8% over 5 sessions (67% higher; middle half -1.9% to +5.2%), and +6.3% over 20.
After 40 past bullish weather events, Crude Oil (WTI) moved a median +1.6% over 5 sessions (63% higher; middle half -3.7% to +5.3%), and +6.1% over 20.
After 39 past bullish weather events, ULSD / Diesel moved a median +2.4% over 5 sessions (59% higher; middle half -4.5% to +6.1%), and +8.9% over 20.
After 221 past bullish weather events, Natural Gas moved a median +3.3% over 5 sessions (61% higher; middle half -5.2% to +14.0%), and -0.3% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.