Oil prices fell today, Wednesday, after rising in three sessions, as data indicating a rise in US inventories and expectations about the trends of the dollar soured investors.

West Texas Intermediate crude (September delivery), the most heavily traded contract, fell in early Asian trading after rising more than 8% in the previous three sessions. This rally was supported by a weaker US currency, pipeline disruptions (the transporter of oil from Canada to the US), and signs that the physical market is still suffering from tight supplies.

Estimates from the American Petroleum Institute showed that US stocks of oil increased by about two million barrels last week, and gasoline reserves also rose, according to people familiar with the matter. Official data on inventories will be released by the US Energy Information Administration later today.

Crude oil prices are hovering around $100 a barrel this month, as traders are calculating the impact of demand on a potential recession, as well as rising risk appetite and broader market moves.

After hitting a record high last week, the dollar weakened, making commodities including oil more attractive.

Prices are still in a state known as “backwardation”, a pattern characterized by the price of near-term contracts being traded higher than longer-term. The spread between the two closest contracts for Brent crude, close to $4.44 a barrel, is $1 higher than it was a week ago.