Oil rises on supply tightness, fresh Iran sanctions
Though oil rose on Friday, prices are on track for a weekly decline amid rate hikes from major central banks that fuelled worries about a sharp economic slowdown
17 June 2022 - 11:59
byBozorgmehr Sharafedin
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Equinor's Johan Sverdrup oilfield platforms and accommodation jack-up rig Haven are pictured in the North Sea, Norway on December 3 2019. File Picture: REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
London — Oil rose on Friday, supported by supply tightness and new sanctions on Iran, but prices were on track for a weekly decline amid interest rate hikes from major central banks that fuelled worries about a sharp economic slowdown.
Brent crude was up 62c , or 0.5%, to $120.43 a barrel at 8.56am GMT, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude had gained 75c, or 0.6%, to $118.34.
Both contracts had fallen by more than $1 earlier in the session.
Brent was on track for its first weekly dip in five weeks, and US crude for its first decline in eight weeks, in line with a fall in equity markets amid fears of a possible recession as central banks joined a chorus of outsized rate hikes.
“The influence of the macro environment has started to take over from oil-specific fundamentals in recent days,” said Investec’s head of commodities Callum Macpherson.
“Consistent with the broader market preoccupation with rates and inflation, the oil market narrative may now turn to focus more on affordability, rather than on supply.”
However, US sanctions on Chinese and Emirati companies and on a network of Iranian firms that help export Iran’s petrochemicals lent some support to oil prices.
The US government said while it is pursing diplomacy to revive a nuclear deal with Iran, it will continue to use sanctions to limit exports of oil, oil products, and petrochemicals from Iran.
Analysts estimate that a deal and the consequent lifting of sanctions on Iran’s energy sector could add up to 1-million barrels of oil per day to global markets.
“The market has been watching negotiations between the West and Iran in anticipation of a revival of the nuclear deal in recent months. This brought back into focus the ongoing supply side issues in the market,” ANZ Research analysts said in a note.
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 rises on supply tightness, fresh Iran sanctions
Though oil rose on Friday, prices are on track for a weekly decline amid rate hikes from major central banks that fuelled worries about a sharp economic slowdown
London — Oil rose on Friday, supported by supply tightness and new sanctions on Iran, but prices were on track for a weekly decline amid interest rate hikes from major central banks that fuelled worries about a sharp economic slowdown.
Brent crude was up 62c , or 0.5%, to $120.43 a barrel at 8.56am GMT, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude had gained 75c, or 0.6%, to $118.34.
Both contracts had fallen by more than $1 earlier in the session.
Brent was on track for its first weekly dip in five weeks, and US crude for its first decline in eight weeks, in line with a fall in equity markets amid fears of a possible recession as central banks joined a chorus of outsized rate hikes.
“The influence of the macro environment has started to take over from oil-specific fundamentals in recent days,” said Investec’s head of commodities Callum Macpherson.
“Consistent with the broader market preoccupation with rates and inflation, the oil market narrative may now turn to focus more on affordability, rather than on supply.”
However, US sanctions on Chinese and Emirati companies and on a network of Iranian firms that help export Iran’s petrochemicals lent some support to oil prices.
The US government said while it is pursing diplomacy to revive a nuclear deal with Iran, it will continue to use sanctions to limit exports of oil, oil products, and petrochemicals from Iran.
Analysts estimate that a deal and the consequent lifting of sanctions on Iran’s energy sector could add up to 1-million barrels of oil per day to global markets.
“The market has been watching negotiations between the West and Iran in anticipation of a revival of the nuclear deal in recent months. This brought back into focus the ongoing supply side issues in the market,” ANZ Research analysts said in a note.
Reuters
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