Investors are closely watching export cuts from Russia, which decided to trim oil output by 500,000 bpd in March
10 March 2023 - 13:06
byShadia Nasralla
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London — Oil fell for a fourth session on Friday, heading for its biggest weekly loss in five weeks on worries about the prospect of steep interest-rate hikes in the US hitting fuel demand.
Brent dipped 41c, or 0.5%, to $81.18 a barrel by 8.52am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was down 56c, or 0.7%, at $75.16.
Expectations of further rate hikes in the world’s largest economy and in Europe have clouded the global growth outlook and driven both crude benchmarks down more than 5% so far this week, their worst drop since early February.
A strengthening dollar is also making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.
US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has warned of higher and potentially faster rate hikes, saying the Fed was wrong in initially thinking inflation was “transitory”.
Broader US employment data later on Friday looms as a crucial barometer of the health of the US labour market, considered tight, and as an indicator on the direction of interest rates.
Nonfarm payrolls probably increased by 205,000 jobs in February, according to a Reuters survey.
“A forecast-beating number will be the final nail in the coffin for rate doves and should provide fresh ammo for oil bears,” PVM analyst Stephen Brennock said.
On the supply side, the US was reported to have privately urged some commodity traders to shed concerns about shipping price-capped Russian oil in a bid to shore up supply, which suggested more Russian oil might flow into the market.
Investors are closely monitoring export cuts from Russia, which decided to trim oil output by 500,000 barrels per day in March.
Reuters this week reported that Russia plans to cut oil exports and transit from its western ports in March by 10% on a daily basis from February.
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 continues slide on worries about rate hikes
Investors are closely watching export cuts from Russia, which decided to trim oil output by 500,000 bpd in March
London — Oil fell for a fourth session on Friday, heading for its biggest weekly loss in five weeks on worries about the prospect of steep interest-rate hikes in the US hitting fuel demand.
Brent dipped 41c, or 0.5%, to $81.18 a barrel by 8.52am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was down 56c, or 0.7%, at $75.16.
Expectations of further rate hikes in the world’s largest economy and in Europe have clouded the global growth outlook and driven both crude benchmarks down more than 5% so far this week, their worst drop since early February.
A strengthening dollar is also making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.
US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has warned of higher and potentially faster rate hikes, saying the Fed was wrong in initially thinking inflation was “transitory”.
Broader US employment data later on Friday looms as a crucial barometer of the health of the US labour market, considered tight, and as an indicator on the direction of interest rates.
Nonfarm payrolls probably increased by 205,000 jobs in February, according to a Reuters survey.
“A forecast-beating number will be the final nail in the coffin for rate doves and should provide fresh ammo for oil bears,” PVM analyst Stephen Brennock said.
On the supply side, the US was reported to have privately urged some commodity traders to shed concerns about shipping price-capped Russian oil in a bid to shore up supply, which suggested more Russian oil might flow into the market.
Investors are closely monitoring export cuts from Russia, which decided to trim oil output by 500,000 barrels per day in March.
Reuters this week reported that Russia plans to cut oil exports and transit from its western ports in March by 10% on a daily basis from February.
Reuters
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