CRUDE WRAP: WTI (Q6) SETTLES USD 0.11 HIGHER AT USD 68.69/BBL; BRENT (U6) SETTLES USD 0.23 HIGHER AT USD 71.80/BBL

The crude complex was slightly firmer and traded within thin ranges amid a lack of geopolitically important headlines. The key risk event on Thursday was US non-farm payrolls, brought forward a day on account of US Independence Day on Friday, which garnered a broad-based dovish reaction, but little move was seen in the energy space. Overall, the crude complex trickled lower throughout following US-Iran indirect talks in Doha, with Qatar's Foreign Ministry noting that mediators concluded separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators, and that positive progress was made on issues related to the Islamabad MoU. On that footing, Al Arabiya, citing sources, said the next round of US-Iran negotiations is to be held on 18th July. In the US morning, prices found their lows, before paring losses and eking out marginal gains; no newsflow was behind the reversal. In the weekly Baker Hughes rig count, Oil +5 at 445, Nat Gas +1 at 126, leaving the Total+7 at 580. As mentioned, newsflow is likely to be light on Friday, with US markets closed and participants away for US Independence Day. WTI traded between USD 67.04-68.80/bbl and Brent USD 70.14-71.92/bbl.