China’s return to normality will not be enough to lift oil back above $100 a barrel, one analyst says
11 January 2023 - 11:55
byShadia Nasralla
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.
London — Oil prices were broadly steady on Wednesday as market participants were pulled in different directions by an unexpected build in US crude and fuel inventories, global economic uncertainty and China reopening its economy.
Moving in and out of negative territory, Brent crude futures were up 53c, or 0.7%, at $80.63 a barrel by 9.21am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 41c, or 0.6%, to $75.53 a barrel.
Both contracts rose on Monday and Tuesday, rebounding from a sharp sell-off in the first week of 2023.
US crude oil stockpiles jumped by 14.9-million barrels in the week ended January 6, sources said, citing data from the American Petroleum Institute (API). At the same time, distillate stocks rose by about 1.1-million barrels.
Analysts polled by Reuters had expected crude stocks to fall. Traders will be looking out for inventory data from the US Energy Information Administration typically due at 3.30pm GMT.
The oil market has been pulled lower by worries that sharply higher interest rate hikes to tame inflation would trigger a recession and curtail fuel demand. US inflation data is due on Thursday.
If inflation comes in below expectations that would drive the dollar down, analysts said. A weaker dollar can boost oil demand as it makes the commodity cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.
Prices have not jumped but gained some support from hopes for fuel demand growth in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer after the US, after it eased its Covid-19 curbs and increased crude import quotas by 20%.
“It is dawning on market players that China’s return to normality won’t be enough to propel oil back above $100/bbl on a sustained basis,” said PVM analyst Stephen Brennock.
“What is required is an improvement in global growth. Yet the outlook for the world economy is constrained by high inflation and tightening credit conditions.”
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 prices move in and out of negative territory
China’s return to normality will not be enough to lift oil back above $100 a barrel, one analyst says
London — Oil prices were broadly steady on Wednesday as market participants were pulled in different directions by an unexpected build in US crude and fuel inventories, global economic uncertainty and China reopening its economy.
Moving in and out of negative territory, Brent crude futures were up 53c, or 0.7%, at $80.63 a barrel by 9.21am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 41c, or 0.6%, to $75.53 a barrel.
Both contracts rose on Monday and Tuesday, rebounding from a sharp sell-off in the first week of 2023.
US crude oil stockpiles jumped by 14.9-million barrels in the week ended January 6, sources said, citing data from the American Petroleum Institute (API). At the same time, distillate stocks rose by about 1.1-million barrels.
Analysts polled by Reuters had expected crude stocks to fall. Traders will be looking out for inventory data from the US Energy Information Administration typically due at 3.30pm GMT.
The oil market has been pulled lower by worries that sharply higher interest rate hikes to tame inflation would trigger a recession and curtail fuel demand. US inflation data is due on Thursday.
If inflation comes in below expectations that would drive the dollar down, analysts said. A weaker dollar can boost oil demand as it makes the commodity cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.
Prices have not jumped but gained some support from hopes for fuel demand growth in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer after the US, after it eased its Covid-19 curbs and increased crude import quotas by 20%.
“It is dawning on market players that China’s return to normality won’t be enough to propel oil back above $100/bbl on a sustained basis,” said PVM analyst Stephen Brennock.
“What is required is an improvement in global growth. Yet the outlook for the world economy is constrained by high inflation and tightening credit conditions.”
Reuters
Asian shares rise as investors await US inflation data, dollar steadies
Oil falls on unexpected build in US crude and fuel inventories
MARKET WRAP: JSE feels the chill wind of Fed comments
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
JSE stronger as markets await Thursday’s US CPI data
Gold stable as investors await key US inflation data
Asian shares rise as investors await US inflation data, dollar steadies
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.