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The Fed's fight to lower inflation "has a long way to go" Powell said on Wednesday in testimony prepared for delivery to the House Financial Services Committee. Providing some support for prices earlier, analysts polled by Reuters said they expected U.S. crude oil and product inventories to have declined last week. However, an expanded poll now predicts a small build in crude oil stockpiles. Official U.S. oil inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute will be released later on Wednesday and the Energy Information Administration's report will follow on Thursday. Price gains were also capped as British inflation defied expectations of a slowdown, data showed on Wednesday.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Brent, Powell, Price, Craig Erlam, Shariq Khan, Rowena Edwards, Katya Golubkova, Trixie Yap, Emelia Sithole, David Goodman, Chris Reese Organizations: . West Texas, Financial Services Committee, Analysts, Reuters, American Petroleum Institute, Energy, Bank of England, OANDA, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, U.S

☆ Oil holds steady ahead of Powell's congressional testimony
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 21 (Reuters) - Oil prices stabilised on Wednesday ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's congressional testimony later in the day and as data showing British inflation remained sticky raised the possibility of a hawkish Bank of England policy decision this week. The main market focus is on Fed officials due to speak later in the day, with Chair Powell's congressional testimony on the economy on Wednesday and Thursday the highlight. However, should Powell prompt a hawkish return of rate cut expectations, the U.S. dollar could see some support, ING strategist Francesco Pesole said in a note. A stronger U.S. dollar is bearish for oil as it makes commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies. Oil prices drew some support from a possible drawdown in U.S. crude stocks, with Reuters poll among five analysts estimating that crude stockpiles fell by about 400,000 barrels on average in the week to June 16.

Persons: Jerome, Brent, Craig Erlam, Powell, Francesco Pesole, Rowena Edwards, Katya Golubkova, Trixie Yap, Emelia Sithole, Louise Heavens Organizations: Federal, hawkish Bank of, . West Texas, Bank of England, U.S, ING, Reuters, American Petroleum Institute, Energy, Administration, Thomson Locations: bank's Washington, U.S, Tokyo, Singapore

☆ Oil up on strong China refinery data
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies United States of America FollowLONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday after a plunge the previous day, as data showed a jump in refinery runs in top crude importer China though a weak economic backdrop capped gains. The market saw support after data on Thursday showed China's oil refinery throughput in May rising 15.4% from a year earlier, hitting its second highest total on record. Also capping price gains were fears that higher interest rates would slow economies in the United States and Europe, and lower oil demand. Analysts, however, expect oil prices to see support later in the year as voluntary cuts by OPEC+ countries implemented in May, and from Saudi Arabia in July, coincide with robust demand. "Once these deficits become visible in on-land oil inventories, we expect oil prices to trend higher," the bank said in a note on Thursday.

Persons: Rowena Edwards, Jeslyn Lerh, Emelia Sithole, Jason Neely Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Kuwait Petroleum, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, UBS, Thomson Locations: States, America, China, Kuwait, United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, London, Singapore, Houston

He announced the output cut after the meeting, calling it a "Saudi lollipop". Saudi Arabia said it would cut output in July by 10% or 1 million barrels per day (bpd) to 9 million bpd and may extend cuts further if needed. As well as the Saudi cut, OPEC+ lowered its collective production target for 2024 and the nine participating countries extended the April voluntary cuts to the end of 2024. Nonetheless, all those producers stand to benefit if they can keep output the same or pump a bit more, especially if the Saudi cut boosts prices. "Saudi cuts are playing second fiddle to worries about the state of the global economy," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM, although he added the Saudi cut could widen a supply deficit in July.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz, Abu, Al Arabiya, Brent, Stephen Brennock, Rowena Edwards, Maha El, Simon Webb, David Evans Organizations: Saudi, Saudi Energy, Organization of, Petroleum, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Energy Ministry, OPEC's, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Vienna, OPEC, Russia, Abu Dhabi, OPEC's Vienna, UAE, Nigeria, Angola, Friday's

Prices rose on Monday after Saudi Arabia said over the weekend it would cut output to around 9 million barrels per day (bpd) in July from about 10 million bpd in May. A stronger dollar can weigh on oil demand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies. Higher interest rates boost borrowing costs, which can slow the economy and reduce oil demand. EIA also projected U.S. petroleum demand would rise from 20.3 million bpd in 2022 to 20.4 million bpd in 2023 and 20.7 million bpd in 2024. That compares with a record 20.8 million bpd in 2005, according to EIA data going back to 1973.

Persons: Brent, Edward Moya, Scott DiSavino, Rowena Edwards, Arathy, Trixie Yap, David Goodman, Matthew Lewis, Chizu Nomiyama, Richard Chang Organizations: EIA, Saudi, U.S, West Texas, Citi, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank, Energy Information Administration, American Petroleum Institute, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, OPEC, China, U.S, Europe, New York, London, Houston, Singapore

☆ Oil falls as economic fears overshadow Saudi output cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude futures were down $1.50, or 1.96%, to $75.21 a barrel by 1046 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.47, or 2.04%, to $70.68 a barrel. Backwardation in Brent crude oil futures — where the current value is higher than in later months — steepened after the weekend announcement with the six-month spread hitting a five-week high of $2.20/bbl on Monday. The U.S. services sector barely grew in May as new orders slowed, and market participants are waiting to see if the U.S. Federal Reserve will hike or hold interest rates in June. Higher interest rates could curb energy demand.

Persons: Brent, Backwardation, — steepened, Ole Hansen, Tamas Varga, PVM, Rowena Edwards, Arathy Somasekhar, Trixie Yap, Sriraj Kalluvila, Jason Neely Organizations: EIA, LONDON, Saudi, Brent, . West Texas, Citi, bbl, PMI, Saxo Bank, The, U.S . Federal, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, OPEC, U.S, Europe, China, Brent, The U.S, London, Houston, Singapore

Brent crude futures rose $2.25, or 3.1%, to $74.85 a barrel by 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT) . U.S. Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday suggested interest rates could be steady this month and the House passed a bill suspending the government's debt ceiling, improving chances of averting a disastrous default. "The successful debt ceiling negotiations clears that minefield, but the overall demand outlook is still murky - the trucking space is doing poorly, for example," CFRA Research analyst Stewart Glickman said. The oil market is focusing on the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, which will discuss whether to cut oil production further. U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose unexpectedly last week, as imports jumped and strategic reserves dropped to their lowest since Sept. 1983, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.

Persons: Stewart Glickman, Peter McNally, Robert Yawger, Alex Lawler, Rowena Edwards, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, U.S . Federal, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: China, BENGALURU, Russia, Reuters OPEC, U.S, OPEC, London, Houston, Beijing

U.S. Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday suggested interest rates could be kept on hold this month and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill suspending the government's debt ceiling, improving the chance of averting a disastrous default. "Oil markets may have been oversold in the last two trading days," said CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng. "Sentiment rebounded amid the debt bill's passage in the House and (the) Fed's rate hike pause signal." Mixed demand indications from China, the world's biggest oil importer, have nonetheless weighed on the market, as has industry data showing a rise in U.S. crude inventories. Market sources citing American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Wednesday said that U.S. crude inventories rose by about 5.2 million barrels last week.

Persons: Tina Teng, Tamas Varga, Alex Lawler, Rowena Edwards, Arathy Somasekhar, Andrew Hayley, David Goodman Organizations: Representatives U.S, U.S . Federal, U.S . House, Brent, West Texas, American Petroleum Institute, of, Petroleum, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, OPEC, Russia, London, Houston, Beijing

LONDON/DUBAI, June 1 (Reuters) - OPEC and its allies are unlikely to deepen supply cuts at their ministerial meeting on Sunday despite a fall in oil prices toward $70 per barrel, four sources from the alliance told Reuters. It brought total output cuts to 3.66 million bpd, or about 4% of global consumption. In March 2020, it abandoned production quotas altogether, launching a Saudi-Russian price war at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that sent oil prices 25% lower. It quickly re-established quotas with its biggest output cut to date of about 10 million bpd, agreed in April, 2020. OPEC has said it expects oil demand growth to reach 2.33 million bpd this year as non-OPEC supplies grow by 1.4 million bpd.

Persons: Brent, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Alexander Novak, Goldman Sachs, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Rowena Edwards, Maha El, Simon Webb, Barbara Lewis Organizations: LONDON, OPEC, Reuters, Organization of, Petroleum, West, Brent, Saudi Energy, Saudi, HSBC, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Russia, West African, Nigeria, Angola, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, Vienna, Russian, China, 2H23, OPEC, London, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Moscow

☆ Oil falls on weak China data, stronger U.S. dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Companies Saudi Arabian Oil Co FollowLONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell by over 2% on Wednesday on a stronger U.S. dollar and as weak data from top oil importer China raised demand fears. Further pressure came as the U.S. dollar rose to its highest in over two months, making commodities more expensive for buyers holding other currencies and weighing on oil demand. Mixed signals by major OPEC+ producers on whether or not the group will decide to further cut oil production have sparked recent volatility in oil prices. HSBC said on Wednesday that stronger oil demand from China and the West from the summer onwards will bring about a supply deficit in the second half of the year. Separately, U.S. crude oil and gasoline stockpiles were seen falling last week, while distillate inventories likely increased, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Persons: Brent, Brent's, Stephen Brennock, Rowena Edwards, Trixie Yap, Stephanie Kelly, Yuka Obayashi, Mark Potter, David Evans Organizations: Saudi Arabian Oil, . West Texas, U.S, Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum, HSBC, American Petroleum Institute, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Russia, London, Singapore, New York, Tokyo

May 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and weak data from top oil importer China that fed demand fears. A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for buyers holding other currencies. U.S. data showed job openings unexpectedly rose in April, pointing to persistent strength in the labor market that could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in June. HSBC said stronger oil demand from China and the West from the summer onwards will trigger a supply deficit in the second half. U.S. crude oil and gasoline stockpiles were seen falling last week, while distillate inventories likely increased, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Persons: Brent, Bob Yawger, Goldman Sachs, Stephen Brennock, Rowena Edwards, Trixie Yap, Stephanie Kelly, Yuka Obayashi, David Evans, Emelia, Lisa Shumaker, David Gregorio Our Organizations: . West Texas, Senate, Federal Reserve, Mizuho, Traders, Organization of, Petroleum, HSBC, Energy, American Petroleum Institute, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Russia, London, Singapore, New York, Tokyo

☆ Factbox: What have OPEC+ producers said ahead of June oil policy meeting?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Mixed signals by major OPEC producers and their main allies have sparked volatility in oil prices ahead of an OPEC+ oil policy meeting set to take place this weekend. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday he expected no new steps from OPEC+ in Vienna, Russian media reported. Novak later added in a statement that OPEC+ would make a decision on what is best for the oil market. Three sources with knowledge of current Russian thinking told Reuters last week Russia is leaning towards leaving oil production volumes unchanged. IRANIranian President Ebrahim Raisi told the secretary general of OPEC on Saturday that he hopes oil producers can calm the market, calling for the unity of OPEC members, Iranian media reported.

☆ Oil stable after smaller ECB hike, demand woes linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent futures were up 28 cents, or 0.39%, to $72.61 a barrel at 1228 GMT. The European Central Bank (ECB) eased the pace of its interest rate hikes on Thursday and kept its options open on future moves as it continues its fight against stubbornly high inflation in the euro zone. The 25-basis-point increase to the ECB's three policy rates was the smallest since it started lifting them last summer. "Today's decision signals that the ECB has entered the final stage of its current tightening cycle," ING said in a note. Prices have plunged this week on concerns about the U.S. economy and signs of weak manufacturing growth in the world's largest oil importer China, sliding further after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday.

☆ Oil slips on weak China data and rate hike expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Tuesday on weak economic data from China and expectations of interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank (ECB) this week. Brent crude fell 42 cents, or 0.53%, to to $78.89 a barrel by 1037 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost 46 cents, or 0.61% to $75.20. Price pressure followed official data on Sunday showing manufacturing activity in China, the world's top crude importer, fell unexpectedly in April. Investors will look for market direction from expected interest rate hikes by inflation-fighting central banks, which could slow economic growth and dent energy demand. A poll on Monday showed that U.S. crude oil stockpiles, meanwhile, are expected to have fallen for a third consecutive week, providing some oil price support.

☆ Iraq's crude production fell more than 6% in April -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Oil Marketing Company FollowMay 2 (Reuters) - Iraq produced 3.938 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in April, down 262,000 bpd from March, a source at state-owned crude marketer SOMO told Reuters on Tuesday. This level would mean the country produced almost 500,000 bpd below its April quota under the agreement with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+. The production decline comes after Turkey halted Iraq's 450,000 bpd of northern exports on March 25 after an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The outage has forced the majority of crude oil production in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to be shut in. Reporting by Rowena Edwards; Editing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ In change for oil market, new US crude in Brent index lacks loading plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Oil-index publisher S&P Global Platts is adding U.S. WTI Midland crude to its dated Brent oil price assessment for June deliveries, which is now in focus as the market trades roughly a month ahead. Dated Brent is part of the wider Brent complex including physical cargoes, swaps and futures that is used to price millions of barrels of oil each day. The companies that run the North Sea crude streams, known as the operator, issue planned cargo loading lists which the industry monitors as an indication of supply. "We see no reason for issues," said Joel Hanley, global director, crude and fuel oil, at S&P Global Commodity Insights. Thomson Reuters competes with S&P Global Platts in providing news and data about the oil market.

Oil prices dropped almost 4% on Wednesday as jitters about a U.S. economic downturn overshadowed a larger-than-expected fall in U.S. crude inventories. The OPEC+ group of leading oil producers does not see the need for further oil output cuts but is always able to adjust its policy, Novak said. Data on Thursday showed U.S. economic growth slowed by more than expected in the first quarter, although jobless claims fell in the week ending April 22. Oil prices were also pressured as weak risk sentiment spread from the banking sector after First Republic Bank's continued slump. Analysts see weak refinery margins as a major contributor to the recent oil price decline, with oil broker PVM's Tamas Varga pointing to heating oil and gasoil as "the main possible culprit for the outsized weakness".

April 24 (Reuters) - Iraq's northern oil exports showed few concrete signs of an imminent restart after a month of standstill, as aspects of an agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have yet to be resolved, according to four sources. Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, signed a temporary agreement on April 4 to restart northern oil exports. The KRG and Iraq's oil ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Iraq's lack of willingness to discuss these issues has frustrated Turkey, according to one source. Fields which are still running include Khurmala, which has reduced output from around 135,000 bpd to 100,000 bpd, according to a source familiar with field operations.

☆ Oil rises but post weekly loss as economic uncertainty weighs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 50 cents to $77.87 per barrel. Survey data from the euro zone and Britain lifted oil prices on Friday. In India, refiners' crude oil processing stayed near record peaks in March, provisional government data showed, catering to solid seasonal demand in the world's third biggest oil consumer. Oilfield services giant SLB (SLB.N) beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit, as elevated crude prices and tight supplies increased demand for its services. However, economic uncertainty and the prospect of rising interest rates continued to hang over oil markets.

☆ Oil falls 1% on recession fears, OPEC summer demand warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Shariq Khan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. However, minutes from the Fed's last policy meeting indicated that banking sector stress could tip the economy into recession, which would weaken U.S. oil demand. Also weighing on prices, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) flagged downside risks to summer oil demand in a monthly report on Thursday. Oil price declines were limited, however, as OPEC kept its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2023 unchanged. Signs of a demand recovery in China, the top importer of crude oil and products, provided more support for oil prices, Yawger said.

☆ Oil prices cool off multi-month highs on recession fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Shariq Khan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S., November 22, 2019. However, minutes from the Fed's last policy meeting indicated that banking sector stress could tip the economy into recession, which would weaken U.S. oil demand. Oil price declines were limited, however, as OPEC kept its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2023 unchanged. Signs of a demand recovery in China, the top importer of crude oil and products, provided more support for oil prices, Yawger said. The executive director of the International Energy Agency expects the move to tighten supply in the second half of the year and push oil prices higher.

Iraq, OPEC's second largest oil producer, exports the bulk of its oil through its southern Gulf port of Basra. An Iraqi oil ministry official with knowledge of the meeting said the aim was to reassure the companies that their deals with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) were secure. Baghdad and the KRG signed a temporary agreement on Tuesday to restart northern oil exports as part of efforts to end decades of political and economic disputes. Petraco confirmed its presence at talks in Baghdad and said it was currently awaiting further developments. Further complicating the picture, Kurdistan has borrowed billions of dollars from trading houses and oil producers, including to build a new pipeline to Turkey, pledging to repay debts from future oil exports.

☆ Oil prices stable as economic fears balance OPEC+ cuts, U.S. stock draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Flames emerge from flare stacks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani/File PhotoLONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices were stable on Wednesday, as the market weighed gloomy economic prospects against expectations of U.S. crude inventory declines and OPEC's voluntary output cuts announcement. Bullish sentiment continued after voluntary cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+. However, weak manufacturing activity in the U.S. and China - the two biggest oil consumers - have capped oil oil price gains. Record Russian diesel flows to the Middle East in March, and the sluggish performance of middle distillates contracts have "acted acted as a brake on any attempt to push crude oil prices meaningfully higher," Varga said.

☆ Iraq to ask Turkey to restart northern oil exports after initial KRG deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 2 (Reuters) - Iraq's federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have reached an initial agreement to restart northern oil exports this week, a KRG spokesman said on Sunday, and Baghdad will write to Turkey to request a resumption in pipeline flows. Baghdad had argued that Turkey had violated a joint agreement by allowing the KRG to export oil to Ceyhan without its consent. The resumption of pipeline flows from Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will still need approval from Turkey. "A letter of request to resume oil flows will be sent by Baghdad to Ankara," a KRG official told Reuters on Sunday. Sources last week told Reuters that Turkey wants an unfinished court case settled with Iraq before the pipeline reopens.

Baghdad had argued that Turkey had violated a joint agreement by allowing the KRG to export oil to Ceyhan without its consent. Iraq's oil ministry in Baghdad said on Sunday it hopes to reach a final agreement soon with the KRG on resuming northern oil exports. Iraq's oil ministry said that details on the new export agreement would be announced "in due course". The resumption of pipeline flows from Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will still need approval from Turkey. "A letter of request to resume oil flows will be sent by Baghdad to Ankara," a KRG official told Reuters on Sunday.

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