Oil slips as investors focus on white hot US inflation
Traders worry about more aggressive rate hikes from US Federal Reserve after release of US consumer price index data
14 July 2022 - 07:44
byArathy Somasekhar
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Singapore — Oil prices ticked down on Thursday as investors doubled down on the possibility of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve that would stem inflation and curb oil demand.
Brent crude futures for September fell 20c, or 0.2%, to $99.37 a barrel by 12.10am GMT after gaining 8c on Wednesday.
US West Texas Intermediate crude for August delivery was at $95.93 a barrel, down 37c, or 0.4%, after rising 46c in the previous session.
The Federal Reserve is seen ramping up its battle with 40-year high inflation with a supersized 100 basis points rate hike in July after a grim inflation report showed price pressures accelerating.
The Bank of Canada on Wednesday raised its main interest rate by 100 basis points in a bid to crush inflation, surprising markets and becoming the first Group of Seven (G7) country to make such an aggressive hike in this economic cycle.
The European commission predicted record levels of inflation and slashed its GDP forecast for 2022 and 2023 as a result of war in Ukraine, crimped demand due to surging prices and the danger of winter energy shortages, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday citing a draft of the projections.
Investors also flocked to the dollar, often seen as a safe-haven asset. The dollar index hit a 20-year high on Wednesday, which makes oil purchases more expensive for non-US buyers.
The worry of Covid-19 curbs in many Chinese cities to rein in new cases of a highly infectious subvariant has also kept a lid on prices.
China’s daily crude oil imports in June sank to their lowest since July 2018, as refiners expected Covid-19 lockdown measures to curb demand, data showed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will on Friday fly to Saudi Arabia, where he will attend a summit of Gulf allies and call for those allies to pump more oil.
However, spare capacity at oi cartel Opec is running low with most of the producers pumping at maximum capacity and doubt exists as to how much extra Saudi Arabia can bring into the market quickly.
Data from the US Energy Information Administration also point to slackening demand with product supplied slumping to 18.7-million barrels a day, its lowest since June 2021. Crude inventories rose, bolstered by another big release from strategic reserves.
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 slips as investors focus on white hot US inflation
Traders worry about more aggressive rate hikes from US Federal Reserve after release of US consumer price index data
Singapore — Oil prices ticked down on Thursday as investors doubled down on the possibility of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve that would stem inflation and curb oil demand.
Brent crude futures for September fell 20c, or 0.2%, to $99.37 a barrel by 12.10am GMT after gaining 8c on Wednesday.
US West Texas Intermediate crude for August delivery was at $95.93 a barrel, down 37c, or 0.4%, after rising 46c in the previous session.
The Federal Reserve is seen ramping up its battle with 40-year high inflation with a supersized 100 basis points rate hike in July after a grim inflation report showed price pressures accelerating.
The Bank of Canada on Wednesday raised its main interest rate by 100 basis points in a bid to crush inflation, surprising markets and becoming the first Group of Seven (G7) country to make such an aggressive hike in this economic cycle.
The European commission predicted record levels of inflation and slashed its GDP forecast for 2022 and 2023 as a result of war in Ukraine, crimped demand due to surging prices and the danger of winter energy shortages, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday citing a draft of the projections.
Investors also flocked to the dollar, often seen as a safe-haven asset. The dollar index hit a 20-year high on Wednesday, which makes oil purchases more expensive for non-US buyers.
The worry of Covid-19 curbs in many Chinese cities to rein in new cases of a highly infectious subvariant has also kept a lid on prices.
China’s daily crude oil imports in June sank to their lowest since July 2018, as refiners expected Covid-19 lockdown measures to curb demand, data showed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will on Friday fly to Saudi Arabia, where he will attend a summit of Gulf allies and call for those allies to pump more oil.
However, spare capacity at oi cartel Opec is running low with most of the producers pumping at maximum capacity and doubt exists as to how much extra Saudi Arabia can bring into the market quickly.
Data from the US Energy Information Administration also point to slackening demand with product supplied slumping to 18.7-million barrels a day, its lowest since June 2021. Crude inventories rose, bolstered by another big release from strategic reserves.
Reuters
Asian shares battered after traders fret about recession after US CPI
Oil lifts above $100 a barrel after Tuesday’s decline
Oil edges higher while US inflation accelerates
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