Risk appetite has returned as some governments resist imposing lockdowns to curb the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant
22 December 2021 - 07:43
bySonali Paul
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.
Melbourne — Oil prices rose again on Wednesday as the dollar slipped, with risk appetite returning as some governments resist imposing lockdowns to curb the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant and as China said it would be able to sustain economic growth.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 50c, or 0.7%, to $71.62 a barrel at 2.35am GMT after jumping 3.7% on Tuesday.
Brent crude futures rose 44c, or 0.6%, to $74.42 a barrel after gaining 3.4% on Tuesday.
Oil prices typically move inversely to the dollar, with a weaker greenback making commodities cheaper for those holding other currencies.
Meanwhile a senior Chinese state planning official said on Wednesday Beijing would work to aid economic growth, including stepping up government spending, strengthening support to manufacturers and stabilising industry supply chains.
The country, the world’s biggest oil importer, would “strive to stabilise economic operations in the first quarter, the first half and even the whole year”, the official told Xinhua News Agency.
Meanwhile, some governments are trying to hold off imposing new pandemic curbs to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, including in Britain and Australia, which should help support fuel demand.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not introduce new Covid-19 restrictions before Christmas, but said the government may need to take steps afterwards.
In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday ruled out lockdowns and instead urged people to get booster shots to protect themselves even as the country hit a pandemic high of more than 5,000 new infections.
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 climbs as dollar loses ground
Risk appetite has returned as some governments resist imposing lockdowns to curb the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant
Melbourne — Oil prices rose again on Wednesday as the dollar slipped, with risk appetite returning as some governments resist imposing lockdowns to curb the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant and as China said it would be able to sustain economic growth.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 50c, or 0.7%, to $71.62 a barrel at 2.35am GMT after jumping 3.7% on Tuesday.
Brent crude futures rose 44c, or 0.6%, to $74.42 a barrel after gaining 3.4% on Tuesday.
Oil prices typically move inversely to the dollar, with a weaker greenback making commodities cheaper for those holding other currencies.
Meanwhile a senior Chinese state planning official said on Wednesday Beijing would work to aid economic growth, including stepping up government spending, strengthening support to manufacturers and stabilising industry supply chains.
The country, the world’s biggest oil importer, would “strive to stabilise economic operations in the first quarter, the first half and even the whole year”, the official told Xinhua News Agency.
Meanwhile, some governments are trying to hold off imposing new pandemic curbs to slow the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, including in Britain and Australia, which should help support fuel demand.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not introduce new Covid-19 restrictions before Christmas, but said the government may need to take steps afterwards.
In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday ruled out lockdowns and instead urged people to get booster shots to protect themselves even as the country hit a pandemic high of more than 5,000 new infections.
Reuters
Asian share markets firmer as risk sentiment improves
Global markets creep up as omicron sparks risk appetite
Oil prices catch their breath amid omicron concerns
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
MARKET WRAP: JSE firmer as global markets rebound from Monday’s sell-off
JSE firmer as investors mull effect of omicron curbs
MARKET WRAP: JSE slips amid worries over surging Omicron cases
JSE follows world markets weaker as global Omicron cases surge
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.