Oil Trading: WTI vs Brent — Which Do You Prefer and Why?

For commodity traders expanding beyond precious metals, crude oil is the natural next step. But right away you face a choice: WTI (West Texas Intermediate) or Brent Crude? **WTI (US crude, ticker CL):** - US-based oil, traded on CME/NYMEX - Better indicator of North American supply/demand - Historically more volatile - Affected by EIA inventory reports (Wednesday) and US rig count **Brent (North Sea crude, ticker CO or BRN):** - Global benchmark — most international oil transactions reference Brent - Better indicator of global supply/demand - More stable price due to broader market base - Affected by OPEC decisions, geopolitical events more directly **The spread:** Brent typically trades $3–$8/barrel above WTI (the Brent premium). When this spread widens, it often signals geopolitical risk. **For retail traders:** Brent is often preferred because it's the global benchmark and more technically clean. Do you trade oil? Which benchmark do you prefer, and what's your typical setup?