Global supply outages and declining US inventories offset worries that rising coronavirus cases might reduce demand
29 December 2021 - 13:42
by Dmitry Zhdannikov
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London — Oil prices edged towards $80 per barrel on Wednesday as global supply outages and declining US inventories offset worries that rising coronavirus cases might reduce demand.
Brent crude rose to as much as $79.20 a barrel earlier before retreating to trade flat on the day at $78.94 a barrel by 10.55am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude edged 13 cents lower to $75.85 a barrel, having climbed to $76.17.
Both contracts are trading near their highest levels in a month, aided by the strength in global equities.
“Markets are overwhelmingly pricing in the latest coronavirus variant as a milder incarnation, despite its easier contractibility,” said Oanda analyst Jeffrey Halley in a note.
“With market activity much reduced for the holiday season, investors continue to tentatively price in a global recovery hitting a minor bump, and not a pothole”.
American Petroleum Institute data showed US crude stocks fell by 3.1-million barrels in the week ended December 24, market sources said late on Tuesday, in line with expectations of nine analysts polled by Reuters.
Weekly data from the US Energy Information Administration is due later on Wednesday.
Oil prices have been underpinned by Ecuador, Libya and Nigeria declaring forces majeures this month on part of their production because of maintenance issues and oilfield shutdowns.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Opec+ has resisted calls from Washington to boost output because it wants to provide the market with clear guidance and not deviate from policy on gradual output increases.
Investors are awaiting an Opec+ meeting on January 4, at which the alliance will decide whether to go ahead with a planned production increase of 400,000 barrels per day in February.
At its last meeting, Opec+ stuck to its plans to boost output for January despite Omicron.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Oil prices climb towards $80 on tight supply
Global supply outages and declining US inventories offset worries that rising coronavirus cases might reduce demand
London — Oil prices edged towards $80 per barrel on Wednesday as global supply outages and declining US inventories offset worries that rising coronavirus cases might reduce demand.
Brent crude rose to as much as $79.20 a barrel earlier before retreating to trade flat on the day at $78.94 a barrel by 10.55am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude edged 13 cents lower to $75.85 a barrel, having climbed to $76.17.
Both contracts are trading near their highest levels in a month, aided by the strength in global equities.
“Markets are overwhelmingly pricing in the latest coronavirus variant as a milder incarnation, despite its easier contractibility,” said Oanda analyst Jeffrey Halley in a note.
“With market activity much reduced for the holiday season, investors continue to tentatively price in a global recovery hitting a minor bump, and not a pothole”.
American Petroleum Institute data showed US crude stocks fell by 3.1-million barrels in the week ended December 24, market sources said late on Tuesday, in line with expectations of nine analysts polled by Reuters.
Weekly data from the US Energy Information Administration is due later on Wednesday.
Oil prices have been underpinned by Ecuador, Libya and Nigeria declaring forces majeures this month on part of their production because of maintenance issues and oilfield shutdowns.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Opec+ has resisted calls from Washington to boost output because it wants to provide the market with clear guidance and not deviate from policy on gradual output increases.
Investors are awaiting an Opec+ meeting on January 4, at which the alliance will decide whether to go ahead with a planned production increase of 400,000 barrels per day in February.
At its last meeting, Opec+ stuck to its plans to boost output for January despite Omicron.
Reuters
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