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Brent crude settled down 1 cent to $90.64 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down 22 cents to $87.29. "Much of this reduced supply has simply served to offset a major slowdown in global oil demand," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois. Meanwhile, Europe is expecting a light refinery maintenance season this autumn as refiners look to profit from high margins, which could support crude demand. The IEA last month lowered its 2024 forecast for oil demand growth to 1 million bpd, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions. OPEC's August report, meanwhile, kept its 2.25 million bpd demand growth forecast unchanged.

Persons: Brent, Wally Adeyemo, Jim Ritterbusch, Ras Lanuf, Wood Mackenzie, Naeem Aslam, OPEC's, Robert Harvey, Natalie Grover, Florence Tan, Emily Chow, Emelia Sithole, Andrea Ricci, Chizu Organizations: cnsphoto, REUTERS, West Texas, Monday U.S, Ritterbusch, Associates, U.S, Zaye, European Central Bank, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, IEA, Thomson Locations: Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United States, Galena , Illinois, U.S, Libya, Zueitina, Brega, Es Sidra, Europe

☆ Oil slips on weak China outlook despite US stock drawdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oil pump jacks are seen at the Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas deposit in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina, January 21, 2019. Prices had spiked earlier in the week after Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's top two oil exporters, extended voluntary supply cuts to the year-end. These were on top of the April cuts agreed by several OPEC+ producers running to the end of 2024. But crude imports surged 30.9%. "The wind has been taken out of the bulls' sail overnight by rising Chinese product exports last month albeit crude oil imports rose," PVM Oil analyst Tamas Varga said.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, we've, Jim Ritterbusch, Tamas Varga, Leon Li, Ahmad Ghaddar, Trixie Yap, Marguerita Choy, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Energy, Ritterbusch, Markets, Thomson Locations: Vaca, Patagonian, Neuquen, Argentina, Iran, Venezuela, HOUSTON, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi, Shanghai, London, Singapore

Brent crude was down 36 cents at $84.10 a barrel by 11:45 a.m. EDT (1545 GMT). China, the world's second-largest economy, is considered crucial to shoring up oil demand over the rest of the year. Amplifying demand concerns, U.S. central bank officials have not ruled out further interest rate hikes to contain inflation. A preliminary Reuters poll showed that crude oil and gasoline inventories were expected to have fallen last week, with data from American Petroleum Institute due later on Tuesday. Separately on Monday, Shell (SHEL.L) said it was investigating a possible leak on the 180,000 bpd Trans Niger oil pipeline, though no force majeure has been declared.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Brent, Jim Ritterbusch, majeure, Natalie Grover, Paul Carsten, Muyu Xu, Katya Golubkova, Tomasz Janowski, David Evans, David Goodman, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Shell, West Texas Intermediate, Saudi, Ritterbusch, Associates, American Petroleum Institute, of Commerce, Shell, Thomson Locations: Bakersfield , California, China, Russian, Galena , Illinois, U.S, Iraqi, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi, Niger, London, Singapore, Tokyo

Both benchmarks have been on a sustained rally since June, with West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) trading on Thursday at its highest this year and Brent hitting its highest price since January. Brent crude fell $1.15, or 1.3%, to settle at $86.40 a barrel while WTI settled down $1.58, or 1.9%, at $82.82. Oil prices have been boosted in recent days by extensions to output cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia, alongside supply fears driven by the potential for conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea region to threaten Russian oil shipments. The U.S. is also prohibiting some investment in China in sensitive technologies like computer chips and requires government notification in other tech sectors. Thursday's U.S. consumer prices data for July fuelled speculation the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its aggressive rate hike cycle.

Persons: Johan Sverdrup, Carina Johansen, NTB, Brent, WTI, John Kilduff, John Ritterbusch, Natalie Grover, Muyu Xu, Mark Potter, Elaine Hardcastle, Andy Sullivan Organizations: West Texas, Federal Reserve, Ritterbusch, Associates, Thomson Locations: North, Saudi, Russian, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, China, U.S, New York, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf, Mexico, Galena , Illinois, London, Singapore

☆ Oil prices open lower on demand concerns, remain on track for weekly gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Friday as demand concerns weighed against strong economic data. Brent crude fell 59 cents, or 0.7%, to $83.65 a barrel by 0027 GMT, but was on track for a weekly 5% increase. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 51 cents, or 0.6%, to $79.58 a barrel, on track for a 5.2% weekly increase. Oil rose last session as fears of a global economic slowdown were eased by strong earnings reports and better-than-expected U.S. economic data. On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve implemented another 25 basis point interest rate hike as widely expected, and the European Central Bank followed suit on Thursday.

Persons: Brent, Jerome Powell's, Jim Ritterbusch Organizations: . West Texas, Commerce Department, U.S, Federal, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Ritterbusch, Associates Locations: Ras Behar, Egypt, Galena , Illinois

July 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped in Asian trade on Friday but were on track for a fifth straight week of gains following strong economic data in the U.S., and on speculation over Chinese stimulus measures and OPEC+ output cuts. Brent crude fell 42 cents, or 0.5%, to $83.82 a barrel by 0404 GMT, but was on track for a weekly 3.5% increase. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 34 cents, or 0.4%, to $79.75 a barrel, but were heading for a 3.6% weekly increase. But recent interest rate increases from global central banks seeking to tame stubborn inflation raised questions about long term demand. Earlier this week oil fell after data showed U.S. crude inventories fell less than expected.

Persons: Brent, Jerome Powell's, Baden Moore, Jim Ritterbusch, Laura Sanicola, Andrew Hayley, Lincoln, Sonali Paul Organizations: . West Texas, Commerce Department, Federal, Organization of, Petroleum, bbl, National Australia Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Ritterbusch, Associates, Thomson Locations: U.S, 3Q23, Saudi, Galena , Illinois, Washington, Beijing

Summary U.S. crude stockpiles rise 5 mln bbl -EIAReuters poll forecast 900,000 bbl U.S. crude drawdownIEA predicts demand will outpace supply by 2 mln barrels per dayTOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Oil prices settled up about $2 on Wednesday as optimism over oil demand and U.S. debt ceiling negotiations outweighed worries about abundant supply. West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude settled up $1.97 or 2.8% to $72.83. President Joe Biden and top U.S. congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday underscored their determination to reach a deal soon to raise the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and avoid an economically catastrophic default. The International Energy Agency on Tuesday predicted demand would outpace supply by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in the second half of the year, with China making up 60% of oil demand growth in 2023. Markets are in a "wait-and-watch mode" over the outcome of the debt ceiling negotiations, said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.

☆ Oil prices slide 2%, US jobless data and debt-ceiling talks weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices slid about 2% on Thursday as a political standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling stoked recession jitters in the world's biggest oil consumer, while rising U.S. jobless claims weighed on sentiment and a stronger dollar pressured oil too. A stronger U.S. dollar makes oil more expensive in other countries. Higher interest rates can weigh on oil demand by boosting borrowing costs, pressuring economic growth. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged Congress to raise the $31.4 trillion federal debt limit and avert an unprecedented default that would trigger a global economic downturn. U.S. producer prices rose moderately last month, the smallest annual producer inflation increase in more than two years.

☆ Oil settles narrowly mixed after smaller ECB hike; demand concerns linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said finger-pointing and misrepresenting the actions of OPEC and OPEC+ was "counterproductive." Oil prices settled nearly unchanged on Thursday after the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to slow the pace of interest rate hikes, with prices still down more than 9% for the week on demand concerns in major consuming countries. Oil prices tumbled this week after 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. The ECB increased its three policy rates by 25 basis points, the smallest hike since the central bank starting lifting them last summer, and kept its options open on future moves as it fights stubbornly high euro zone inflation. Along with investor indigestion over central bank messaging, Wall Street stock indexes were under pressure Thursday from another rout in U.S. bank shares, which have reeled from the collapse of a third major regional bank over the weekend.

☆ Oil drops nearly 4% as recession fears outweigh US inventory draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showing U.S. crude inventories fell last week by 5.1 million barrels to 460.9 million barrels helped to limit the price fall, far exceeding analyst forecasts of a 1.5 million drop in a Reuters poll. Gasoline and distillate stocks also drew down, sinking by 2.4 million barrels to 221.1 million barrels and almost 600,000 barrels to 111.5 million barrels, respectively, the EIA said. A forecast of higher refinery activity, but lower crude exports, will continue a push and pull for weeks. Oil prices fell more than 2% on Tuesday as lingering economic concerns and expectations of further interest rate hikes that could curtail fuel demand growth countered signs of improving short-term consumption gains. "This (data) will add credence to claims that the U.S. economy is edging closer to a recession," said PVM Oil's Stephen Brennock.

The U.S. dollar rose after U.S. jobs data pointed to a tight labor market, heightening expectations of another Federal Reserve rate hike. Dollar strength makes oil more expensive for other currency holders and can weigh on demand. Oil also drew support from a steeper-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories last week, as well as a decline in gasoline and distillate stocks, hinting at rising demand. In global financial markets, a U.S. inflation report to be released on Wednesday could help investors to gauge the near-term trajectory for interest rates. Also coming up are monthly reports from OPEC on Thursday and the International Energy Agency on Friday, which will update oil demand and supply forecasts.

☆ Oil settled up as rising supplies face Chinese demand hopes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Permian Basin rigs in 2020, when U.S. crude oil production dropped by 3 million a day as Wall Street pressure forced cuts. Oil prices settled up slightly on Wednesday as signs of ample supply, including growing U.S. crude inventories, offset growing hopes for higher demand after a jump in manufacturing in top crude importer China. Brent crude futures settled up 86 cents, or 1%, to $84.31 a barrel. In other signs of ample supply, Russia's oil production reached the pre-sanctions level for the first time in February, the Kommersant business daily reported. An official index showed China's manufacturing activity expanded in February at the fastest pace in more than a decade, feeding hopes for a boost in oil demand.

Brent crude settled up $1.40, or 1.7%, to $85.09 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled up $1.33, or 1.7%, to $78.47. Investors hope less aggressive U.S. interest rate increases will help the world's biggest economy dodge a sharp economic slowdown or recession that would hit oil demand. "A looming oil demand surge together with lacklustre global supply growth will ensure that the oil balance tightens over the coming months," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM. The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday stopped crude oil flows from Iraq and Azerbaijan out of the Turkish port of Ceyhan. U.S. Energy Information Administration data showing U.S. oil production rose last week to the highest level since April 2020, however, limited oil's gains.

☆ Oil rises, posts second week of gains on China demand outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil rose by about $1 a barrel on Friday and posted second straight weekly gain, spurred largely by brightening economic prospects for China and resulting expectations of a boost to fuel demand in the world's second-biggest economy. "The oil market has been down on global recession fears, but it is still showing signs it can remain tight a little while longer," he said. Oil rose despite U.S. inventory figures this week showing crude stockpiles rose by 8.4 million barrels in the week to Jan. 13 to about 448 million barrels, the highest since June 2021. A price cap on Russian oil, which has been rippling through the global market, is helping to boost crude prices, said Jim Ritterbusch of consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates. "Sanctions and caps on Russian crude are gradually acquiring some price impact and will become more of a bullish factor when last month's influx of Russian crude cargoes is absorbed into the global market," Ritterbusch said.

☆ Oil prices slide 2% as dollar firms and central banks hike interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices slid about 2% on Thursday as traders worried about the fuel demand outlook due to a stronger dollar and further interest rate hikes by global central banks. On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the U.S. central bank will raise interest rates further next year, even as the economy slips toward a possible recession. On Thursday, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank raised interest rates to fight inflation. Also pressuring oil prices, Canada's TC Energy Corp <TRP.TO> said it was resuming operations in a section of its Keystone pipeline, a week after a leak of more than 14,000 barrels of oil in Kansas triggered a shutdown. U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose by more than 10 million barrels last week, the most since March 2021, the Energy Information Administration said.

☆ Oil up $2 a barrel on supply risks amid ongoing Keystone outage
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $73.17 a barrel, rising $2.15, or 3%. The potential of a prolonged outage of TC Energy Corp's Canada-to-U.S. Keystone crude oil pipeline helped turn prices around. Traders worried about how long it would take to clean up and restart the Keystone oil pipeline after more than 14,000 barrels of oil leaked last week, the largest U.S. crude oil spill in nearly a decade. The outage is expected to shrink supplies at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub, and delivery point for benchmark U.S. crude oil futures. "The emergent EU embargo on Russian crude... may add moderate upside energy price risks in the next few months.

☆ Oil up on China COVID hopes, but OPEC+ output concerns offset gains
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary China to speed up COVID-19 vaccinations for elderlyOPEC+ to weigh rollover or oil output cut at Sunday meetingEU fails to agree on Russian oil price cap, say diplomatsNEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Oil rose on Tuesday on expectations for a loosening of China's strict COVID-19 controls, but concerns that OPEC+ would keep its output unchanged at its upcoming meeting limited gains. Weakness in the U.S. dollar, which tends to trade inversely with oil, also helped to boost crude prices. Five OPEC+ sources said OPEC+ is likely to keep oil output policy unchanged at its Sunday meeting, while two sources said an additional production cut was also likely to be considered. OPEC+ started to lower its output target by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in November, aiming to shore up oil prices. Markets are also assessing the impact of a looming Western price cap on Russian oil.

☆ Oil prices ease on Chinese demand data, stronger dollar
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"The recent recovery in oil imports faltered in September," ANZ analysts said in a note, adding that independent refiners failed to utilise increased quotas as ongoing COVID-related lockdowns weighed on demand. Ongoing strength in the U.S. dollar, which was up again for part of the trading session following another suspected foreign exchange intervention by Japan, also posed problems for oil prices. read more A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for non-U.S. buyers. Oil prices regained some ground after data that showed U.S. business activity contracted for a fourth straight month in October, with manufacturers and services firms in a monthly survey of purchasing managers both reporting weaker client demand. "Such a release is likely to have only a modest influence (<$5/bbl) on oil prices", the bank said in a note.

☆ Oil up $2 a barrel from multi-month low on U.S. Gulf supply cuts, softer dollar
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An aerial view shows oil tanks of Transneft oil pipeline operator at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia June 13, 2022. "Oil is currently under the influence of financial forces," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. BP and Chevron said on Monday they had shut production at offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricane Ian approached. read moreThe outages may only provide a momentary reprieve for oil prices, Jim Ritterbusch, of Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note. Iraq's oil minister on Monday said the group was monitoring prices and did not want a sharp increase or a collapse.

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