Oil prices fall as dollar benefits from expectations the US fed will bring forward an increase to interest rates in an effort to tame inflation
12 November 2021 - 13:02
byNoah Browning
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A section of the BP Eastern Trough Area Project oil platform is seen in the North Sea, about 100 miles east of Aberdeen in Scotland. Picture: REUTERS/ANDY BUCHANAN
London — Oil prices fell on Friday, wiping out gains from the previous session as the dollar continued to firm on expectations that the US central bank will bring forward an increase to interest rates in an effort to tame inflation.
Brent crude futures dropped 86 cents, or 1%, to $82.01 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.08, or 1.3%, at $80.51.
Both benchmark crude contracts were poised to end the week lower after sharp swings driven by a strengthening dollar and speculation on whether the Biden administration might release oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cool prices.
There are positive signs on the demand side, with air travel picking up rapidly, but tighter monetary and fiscal policy and the looming northern hemisphere winter will act as a dampener.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) on Thursday cut its world oil demand forecast for the fourth quarter by 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) from last month’s forecast as high energy prices hamper recovery from the economic fallout from theCovid-19 pandemic.
“The oil market is sleepwalking into a supply surplus,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.
“Opec and its allies will at the very least need to put a pause on the easing of their supply curbs in the new year. Inaction will result in global oil stocks swelling once again.”
Opec, Russia and allies, together known as Opec+, agreed last week to stick to plans to add 400,000 bpd to the market each month.
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 poised to end the week lower
Oil prices fall as dollar benefits from expectations the US fed will bring forward an increase to interest rates in an effort to tame inflation
London — Oil prices fell on Friday, wiping out gains from the previous session as the dollar continued to firm on expectations that the US central bank will bring forward an increase to interest rates in an effort to tame inflation.
Brent crude futures dropped 86 cents, or 1%, to $82.01 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.08, or 1.3%, at $80.51.
Both benchmark crude contracts were poised to end the week lower after sharp swings driven by a strengthening dollar and speculation on whether the Biden administration might release oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cool prices.
There are positive signs on the demand side, with air travel picking up rapidly, but tighter monetary and fiscal policy and the looming northern hemisphere winter will act as a dampener.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) on Thursday cut its world oil demand forecast for the fourth quarter by 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) from last month’s forecast as high energy prices hamper recovery from the economic fallout from theCovid-19 pandemic.
“The oil market is sleepwalking into a supply surplus,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.
“Opec and its allies will at the very least need to put a pause on the easing of their supply curbs in the new year. Inaction will result in global oil stocks swelling once again.”
Opec, Russia and allies, together known as Opec+, agreed last week to stick to plans to add 400,000 bpd to the market each month.
Reuters
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