Crude rises after fourth weekly decline as supply risks persist
LONDON and TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- Oil rose in New York after a fourth weekly decline as a weaker dollar boosted the appeal of commodities and concerns over global supply disruptions persisted.
West Texas Intermediate futures added 1.1% following a retreat of 2.5% last week. Three oil fields in the North Sea are winding down output before industrial action starts later Monday, a labor union said. Tensions in the Middle East remain high as the U.S. reimposes sanctions on Iran, while Saudi Arabia halted shipments via a key Red Sea shipping lane last week after two tankers were attacked by Yemen’s Houthi militia.
Oil has declined more than 6% this month on concern that a trade war between the U.S. and China will hurt global economic growth that underpins energy demand. Yet the losses have been capped as President Trump seeks to curtail oil exports from Iran after quitting an agreement that oversees the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. Barclays Plc warned of “significant upside risk” for prices in the fourth quarter as Trump’s policy takes effect.
“Geopolitical risk rose last week from left and right of the Arab Peninsula,” with the attack on Saudi tankers and growing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, said Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM Oil Associates Ltd. in London. “An escalation of either of the conflicts would have a devastating impact on global oil supply.”
WTI crude for September delivery rose as much as 85 cents to $69.54/bbl on the New York Mercantile Exchange and traded at $69.42/bbl. The contract fell 2.5% to $68.69 last week. Total volume traded Monday was 34% below the 100-day average.
Brent for September settlement traded at $74.51/bbl on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, up $0.22, and was at a $5.01 premium to WTI. The global benchmark crude climbed 1.7% last week to $74.29.
The dollar slipped 0.2% against the euro to $1.1685, boosting the appeal of assets such as commodities priced in the U.S. currency.
Oil Market News
While OPEC and its allies could discuss an oil-supply increase higher than the 1 MMbpd agreed at a June meeting, there are currently no talks on that, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in Johannesburg. Oil bulls are venturing back into the market as global conflict sparks concern that supply disruptions will leave buyers scrambling for bbl. A 12-hour stoppage at Total’s Alwyn, Dunbar and Elgin oil and gas fields is set to go ahead on Monday, Unite union regional officer Wullie Wallace said in an email. U.S. federal regulators said their proposal to roll back U.S. mileage targets would increase the nation’s fuel consumption by 500,000 bpd. U.S. working oil rigs rose by three to 861 last week, according to Baker Hughes data.
