US Energy Information Administration will publish weekly information on country’s reserves later on Wednesday
21 July 2021 - 12:03
byAhmad Ghaddar
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.
A worker is seen in front of an oil rig n Singapore in this April 21 2006 file photo. Picture: REUTERS/LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI
London — Oil prices rose on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous session as improved risk appetite, despite data showing an unexpected rise in US oil inventories last week and the prospect of a weaker demand outlook due to rising Covid-19 infections.
Brent crude futures gained 84c, or 1.2%, to $70.19 a barrel at 8.40am GMT, having earlier hit a session low of $68.63/bbl.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 84c, or 1.3%, to $68.04/bbl, after falling to $66.44/bbl earlier on Wednesday.
“Oil ... is appearing to have found support as risk appetite increases once again,” said Ricardo Evangelista, and analyst at ActivTrades.
“This support comes after the pronounced falls registered during the past few sessions, which were triggered by apprehension over the impact the Delta variant [of Covid-19] ... as well as the agreement between Opec+ countries to increase production,” he added.
Oil prices dropped on Monday after a deal by Opec and allied producers, together known as Opec+, to boost monthly supply by 400,000 barrels a day from August through December. The sell-off was worsened by fears that a rise in cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in major markets such as the US, Britain and Japan would affect demand.
A potential rise in US stockpiles weighed on prices earlier in the session.
US crude stocks rose by 806,000 bbl for the week ended July 16, according to two market sources, citing American Petroleum Institute figures.
Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting a big fall in inventories. Official data from the US Energy Information Administration is due later on Wednesday.
JPMorgan analysts said global demand is expected to average 99.6m bbl/day in August, up by 5.4m bbl/day from April. But they also said: “We only see demand [in the fourth quarter of 2021] recovering another incremental 330,000 [barrels a day] vs a normalised 2019 baseline as colder weather sets in for the northern hemisphere and the peak travel season is behind us.”
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 extends gains before data on US inventories
US Energy Information Administration will publish weekly information on country’s reserves later on Wednesday
London — Oil prices rose on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous session as improved risk appetite, despite data showing an unexpected rise in US oil inventories last week and the prospect of a weaker demand outlook due to rising Covid-19 infections.
Brent crude futures gained 84c, or 1.2%, to $70.19 a barrel at 8.40am GMT, having earlier hit a session low of $68.63/bbl.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 84c, or 1.3%, to $68.04/bbl, after falling to $66.44/bbl earlier on Wednesday.
“Oil ... is appearing to have found support as risk appetite increases once again,” said Ricardo Evangelista, and analyst at ActivTrades.
“This support comes after the pronounced falls registered during the past few sessions, which were triggered by apprehension over the impact the Delta variant [of Covid-19] ... as well as the agreement between Opec+ countries to increase production,” he added.
Oil prices dropped on Monday after a deal by Opec and allied producers, together known as Opec+, to boost monthly supply by 400,000 barrels a day from August through December. The sell-off was worsened by fears that a rise in cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in major markets such as the US, Britain and Japan would affect demand.
A potential rise in US stockpiles weighed on prices earlier in the session.
US crude stocks rose by 806,000 bbl for the week ended July 16, according to two market sources, citing American Petroleum Institute figures.
Analysts polled by Reuters were expecting a big fall in inventories. Official data from the US Energy Information Administration is due later on Wednesday.
JPMorgan analysts said global demand is expected to average 99.6m bbl/day in August, up by 5.4m bbl/day from April. But they also said: “We only see demand [in the fourth quarter of 2021] recovering another incremental 330,000 [barrels a day] vs a normalised 2019 baseline as colder weather sets in for the northern hemisphere and the peak travel season is behind us.”
Reuters
JSE firms as global stock markets regain ground
Investors pile into safe-haven assets as Covid-19 cases soar
Gold loses ground as investors turn to dollar as safe-haven bet
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
WATCH: Stock picks — Mastercard and Haidilao
WATCH: Stock pick — AECI
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.