Surging cases of Omicron in Europe and the US stoked investor worries that new curbs on businesses to combat its spread may hit fuel demand
20 December 2021 - 07:44
byJessica Jaganathan
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.
Singapore — Oil prices slumped by more than 2% on Monday as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Europe and the US stoked investor worries that new restrictions on businesses to combat its spread may hit fuel demand.
Brent crude futures fell $1.92, or 2.6%, to $71.60 a barrel by 4.36am GMT while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell $2.09, or 3%, to $68.77 a barrel.
“Today’s Asia ... weak sentiment in oil prices seems to go in line with a weakness seen in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures,” said Kelvin Wong, market analyst at CMC Markets.
"(This is) due to fears of impending restrictions on economic activities to contain the current increasing spread of the -Covid-19 Omicron variant worldwide which may increase the risk of demand slowdown.”
The Netherlands went into lockdown on Sunday and the possibility of more Covid-19 restrictions being imposed ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays loomed over several European countries.
US health officials urged Americans on Sunday to get booster shots, wear masks and be careful if they travel over the winter holidays, as the Omicron variant raged across the world and was set to take over as the dominant strain in the US.
Meanwhile, US energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for a second week in a row.
The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by three to 579 in the week to December 17, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.
Still, lower exports are expected from Russia with exports and transit of oil from the country planned at 56.05 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2022 versus 58.3 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2021, a quarterly export schedule seen by Reuters showed on Friday.
China’s diesel exports in November plunged 69% from a year ago as refineries prioritised domestic supply to ease a fuel crunch with state-backed refineries having raised oil processing rates.
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 slumps more than 2% on rising Omicron cases
Surging cases of Omicron in Europe and the US stoked investor worries that new curbs on businesses to combat its spread may hit fuel demand
Singapore — Oil prices slumped by more than 2% on Monday as surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Europe and the US stoked investor worries that new restrictions on businesses to combat its spread may hit fuel demand.
Brent crude futures fell $1.92, or 2.6%, to $71.60 a barrel by 4.36am GMT while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell $2.09, or 3%, to $68.77 a barrel.
“Today’s Asia ... weak sentiment in oil prices seems to go in line with a weakness seen in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures,” said Kelvin Wong, market analyst at CMC Markets.
"(This is) due to fears of impending restrictions on economic activities to contain the current increasing spread of the -Covid-19 Omicron variant worldwide which may increase the risk of demand slowdown.”
The Netherlands went into lockdown on Sunday and the possibility of more Covid-19 restrictions being imposed ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays loomed over several European countries.
US health officials urged Americans on Sunday to get booster shots, wear masks and be careful if they travel over the winter holidays, as the Omicron variant raged across the world and was set to take over as the dominant strain in the US.
Meanwhile, US energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for a second week in a row.
The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by three to 579 in the week to December 17, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.
Still, lower exports are expected from Russia with exports and transit of oil from the country planned at 56.05 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2022 versus 58.3 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2021, a quarterly export schedule seen by Reuters showed on Friday.
China’s diesel exports in November plunged 69% from a year ago as refineries prioritised domestic supply to ease a fuel crunch with state-backed refineries having raised oil processing rates.
Reuters
Inside the water crisis threatening Iran’s leadership
Rising Omicron cases put pressure on oil prices
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
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.