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TOKYO, June 29 (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Thursday, paring some of the previous day's gains, as investors took profits on concerns that further interest rate hikes by central banks could dampen economic growth and global fuel demand. "The market turned around on renewed worries about further rate hikes in the U.S. and Europe, which will reduce global oil demand," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities. Leaders of the world's top central banks reaffirmed on Wednesday they think further policy tightening will be needed to tame stubbornly high inflation but still believe they can achieve that without triggering outright recessions. Adding to pressure, annual profits at industrial firms in China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer, extended a double-digit decline in the first five months as softening demand squeezed margins. Brent's six-month backwardation - a price structure whereby sooner-loading contracts trade at higher prices than later-loading ones - reached its lowest since December, indicating higher demand for immediate delivery.

Persons: paring, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Kikukawa, Yuka Obayashi, Sonali Paul Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, NS, Nissan Securities, U.S . Federal, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, U.S, Europe, China, United States

☆ Oil steadies after spiking on U.S. inventory fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ahmad Ghaddar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude futures was up 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $74.13 a barrel by 1032 GMT. Nonetheless, the impact that stocks have on oil prices was on display yesterday on a smaller scale," PVM Oil analyst Tamas Varga said. Concerns about the impact that rising interest rates will have on economic growth came back to the fore, however, halting the rally. Adding to pressure, annual profits at industrial firms in China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer, extended a double-digit decline in the first five months as softening demand squeezed margins. "The lack of prospects for fuel demand growth has limited the gain in oil prices, even with supply curbs by oil producers," said Tetsu Emori, CEO of Emori Fund Management Inc.

Persons: Tamas Varga, Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Tetsu Emori, Yuka Obayashi, Jason Neely Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, . Federal, European Central Bank, Emori Fund Management Inc, Thomson Locations: China, Saudi Arabia, OPEC

☆ Oil prices fall on concerns of slow fuel demand, weak China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Oil prices fell on Thursday, paring some of the previous day's gains, as investors took profits on concerns of further interest rate hikes dampening economic growth and global fuel demand while weak economic data in China also weighed on sentiment. "The market turned around on renewed worries about further rate hikes in the U.S. and Europe, which will reduce global oil demand," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities. Adding to pressure, annual profits at industrial firms in China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer, extended a double-digit decline in the first five months as softening demand squeezed margins. Brent's six-month backwardation - a price structure whereby sooner-loading contracts trade at higher prices than later-loading ones - reached its lowest since December, but still indicated higher demand for immediate delivery. "Behind the backwardation is the expectation that the immediate demand for fuels will stay firm as the United States has entered the driving season, but the global economy will slow down toward the second half of this year, reducing oil demand," NS Trading's Kikukawa said.

Persons: paring, Brent, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Tetsu Emori, Kikukawa Organizations: TotalEnergies, . West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, NS, Nissan Securities, U.S . Federal, European Central Bank, Emori Fund Management Inc Locations: Leuna, Germany, China, U.S, Europe, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, United States

NEW YORK, June 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed about 3% on Wednesday as the second straight weekly draw from U.S. crude stockpiles was bigger than expected, offsetting worries that further interest rate hikes could slow economic growth and reduce global oil demand. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.86, or 2.8%, to settle at $69.56, narrowing Brent's premium over WTI to its lowest since June 9. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said crude inventories dropped by 9.6 million barrels in the week ended June 23, far exceeding the 1.8-million barrel draw analysts forecast in a Reuters poll and also much bigger than the 2.8 million barrel draw a year earlier. This report could be a bottom (for oil prices)," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group. Investors remained cautious that interest rate hikes could slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Persons: Brent, Phil Flynn, Jerome Powell, Flynn, Powell, Christine Lagarde, Gelber, Shariq Khan, Alex Lawler, Mohi Narayan, Emma Rumney, Mark Potter, David Gregorio, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: YORK, . West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Price Futures Group, Investors, . Federal, European Central Bank, Associates, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: WTI, Russia, Saudi, China, Bengaluru, London, New Delhi

☆ Oil rises on large US stock draws, but rate hike fears linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday after industry data showed a larger-than-expected drawdown of U.S. inventories, signalling robust demand from the world's biggest oil consumer, but the gains were limited by worries over interest rate hikes. Both contracts had fallen by about 2.5% in the previous session on signals that central banks may not be done with interest rate hikes. "Tuesday's slump took Brent and WTI close to support levels that have held through the price dives of the past couple of months," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights. Higher interest rates can weigh on economic activity and oil demand. Analysts said that markets have struggled to shake off fears that higher interest rates will weigh on global growth and oil demand.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Vandana Hari, Hari, Christine Lagarde, Mohi Narayan, Arathy Somasekhar, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Jamie Freed, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Vanda Insights, American Petroleum Institute, Analysts, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, National Australia Bank, Thomson Locations: Saudi, China

☆ Oil higher on large US stock draws, but rate hike fears linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Mohi Narayan | Thomson Reuters | Reports On Everything How Asia S Fuel Use Recovers The Fallout Of To Tracking How The Global Energy Transition Impacts Refinery Expansion Plans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday after industry data showed a larger-than-expected drawdown of U.S. inventories signalling robust demand from the world's biggest oil consumer, but the gains were limited by worries over interest rate hikes. Both contracts had fallen by about 2.5% in the previous session on signals that central banks may not be done with interest rate hikes. "Tuesday's slump took Brent and WTI close to support levels that have held through the price dives of the past couple of months," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights. Higher interest rates can weigh on economic activity and oil demand. Analysts said that markets have struggled to shake off fears that higher interest rates will weigh on global growth and oil demand.

Persons: Brent, WTI, Vandana Hari, Hari, Christine Lagarde, Mohi Narayan, Arathy Somasekhar, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Vanda Insights, American Petroleum Institute, Analysts, European Central Bank, Federal Reserve, National Australia Bank, Thomson Locations: Saudi, China

Oanda analyst Craig Erlam said prices were mainly at the mercy of "the ever-changing expectations for interest rates". European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday that stubbornly high inflation will require the bank to avoid declaring an end to rate hikes. Higher interest rates can weigh on economic activity and oil demand. But the upbeat data suggested the Federal Reserve will likely have to continue raising interest rates to slow demand in the overall economy. The U.S. central bank, which has raised its policy rate by 500 basis points since March 2022, signaled this month that two additional rate hikes were warranted this year.

Persons: Brent, Craig Erlam, Christine Lagarde, Phil Flynn, Wagner, PVM's Tamas Varga, Saudi Arabia's, Li Qiang, Stephanie Kelly, Shadia Nasralla, Trixie Yap, Jan Harvey, David Goodman, Ed Osmond, Deepa Babington, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, European Central Bank, Price Futures, Reserve, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, Saudi, Thomson Locations: contango, Europe, United States, U.S, Russia, China

SummarySummary Companies Oil price structure implies demand bulls are retreating2-mth Brent spread in contango, implying oversupply concernECB poised for further rate hikesLONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Tuesday ahead of data shedding light on U.S. appetite for fuel during the summer driving season, with the Brent benchmark's price structure indicating bulls are retreating. U.S. inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute industry group is expected after 2000 GMT, followed by government data on Wednesday. For the two-month spread , the market is in shallow contango, the opposite price structure, indicating traders are factoring in a currently slightly oversupplied market. The oil market has shrugged off a clash between Moscow and Russian mercenary group Wagner which was averted on Saturday. Russian oil loadings have kept on schedule.

Persons: Brent, Craig Erlam, Christine Lagarde, Wagner, PVM's Tamas Varga, Saudi Arabia's, Premier Li Qiang, Trixie Yap, Jan Harvey, Louise Heavens Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Central Bank, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, Saudi, Premier, Thomson Locations: contango, U.S, Moscow, Russian, China

☆ After Salesforce's Chief People Officer offended some employees during a Pride event, the company edited his comments out of a recording and deleted a related Slack thread
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Salesforce's Brent Hyder offended some employees during the company's LGBTQ+ Pride month kickoff. The company later removed Hyder's comments from a recording of the event and deleted a Slack thread about them. Because Salesforce removed the comments from the recording, Insider has not verified Hyder's exact comments and Salesforce repeatedly declined to provide Insider with a transcript of Hyder's comments. But according to people who heard them, Hyder made a number of controversial statements including that members of the LGBTQ+ community should compromise with opponents. "Allyship is a constant journey," Billy Lewis, a Salesforce employee who was global head of Outforce for four years, said in an interview arranged by Salesforce.

Persons: Salesforce's Brent Hyder, Brent Hyder, Hyder, Salesforce, Brent, Brent Hyder's, Slack, I'm, Billy Lewis, Jessica Romig, Ashley Stewart Organizations: Pride, Employees, Equality, Allies

☆ Oil prices rise 3% after China rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices climbed 3% on Tuesday, recovering from steep losses the previous session, after China's central bank lowered a short-term lending rate for the first time in 10 months. The rate cut, aimed at adding momentum to a hesitant post-pandemic recovery in the world's second-largest economy and biggest crude importer, is likely increase oil demand. The Fed's rate hikes have strengthened the dollar , making dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for holders of other currencies and weighing on oil prices, so a rate hike pause could be bullish. Worries about demand have unraveled the temporary boost in oil prices from Saudi Arabia's pledge announced early this month to cut more production in July. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kept its forecast for 2023 global oil demand growth steady for a fourth month on Tuesday, slightly increasing expectations of Chinese demand growth.

Persons: Phil Flynn, Giovanni Staunovo, Saudi Arabia's Organizations: Brent, U.S . West Texas, Price Futures, European Central Bank, of Petroleum Exporting, International Energy Agency, Reuters Locations: U.S, Saudi

☆ 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

SummarySummary Companies China May PMI contracts more than expectedUS debt ceiling bill comes up for vote on WednesdaySaudi Arabia may cut July crude price - Reuters pollMay 31 (Reuters) - Oil prices extended losses early on Wednesday as worries of slowing demand from top oil importer China after the release of weaker-than-expected economic data outweighed some positive progress on the U.S. debt ceiling bill. If passed, the Biden administration would not likely need to negotiate the debt ceiling again before the November 2024 presidential election, Dhar said. Traders were uncertain about whether the group would increase output cuts as a slump in prices weighs on the market. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman last week warned short sellers betting oil prices would fall to "watch out" in a possible signal that OPEC+ may cut output. However, comments from Russian oil officials and sources, including Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, indicate the world's third-largest oil producer is leaning toward leaving output unchanged.

Persons: Brent's, Vivek Dhar, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Dhar, Abdulaziz bin Salman, Alexander Novak, Stephanie Kelly, Trixie Yap, Himani Sarkar, Jamie Freed Organizations: PMI, Wednesday, Reuters, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Organization of, Petroleum, Traders, Saudi Arabian Energy, Saudi Aramco, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Wednesday Saudi Arabia, China, U.S, Russia, OPEC, Asia, Saudi Arabia

☆ Oil edges up after steep losses ahead of U.S. debt ceiling vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil storage tanks stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., at night in Tuapse, Russia. Oil prices edged up on Wednesday after steep losses in the prior session, as market participants awaited an expected vote on a bipartisan deal to lift the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling. Traders were uncertain about whether the group will increase output cuts as a slump in prices weighs on the market. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman last week warned short-sellers betting oil prices would fall to "watch out" in a possible signal that OPEC+ may cut output. However, comments from Russian oil officials and sources, including Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, indicate the world's third-largest oil producer is leaning toward leaving output unchanged.

Persons: Brent's, Kevin McCarthy, hardliner, Abdulaziz bin Salman, Alexander Novak Organizations: Rosneft Oil, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Republican, of, Petroleum, Traders, Saudi Arabian Energy, OPEC, Reuters Locations: Tuapse, Russia, U.S, OPEC, Saudi Arabia

LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) - Oil prices have fallen back after a brief spike triggered by the surprise production cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and other members of OPEC+ on April 2. ROUTING THE BEARSIf one of the objectives for Saudi Arabia and its OPEC+ allies was to drive bearish hedge funds out of the oil market, it seems to have succeeded. Following the cut, however, the number of short positions was reduced further to just 78 million barrels by April 11, near to its post-2010 low of just 65 million. In the past, Saudi Arabia's oil minister has described surprise production cuts intended to discourage hedge fund short selling as "ouching". Related columns:- Oil prices stall as short-covering rally is completed (April 17, 2023)- Surprise, squeezing the shorts, and revealed preferences (April 3, 2023)- Oil market has fully absorbed impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine (March 9, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

In the past twelve months, the oil market has absorbed the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed in response by the United States, the European Union and their allies in Asia. As a result, benchmark oil prices have retreated by nearly 40% from their post-invasion high on March 8, 2022, after adjusting them for core inflation. Like all equilibria in the oil market, this one is likely to prove temporary and fragile - lasting until one or more of the risks around recession, inflation and China's post-pandemic rebound materialise or fade away. Conversely, if the global economy slides into a full-blown recession, inventories will rise and prices and spreads are likely to soften further. For the moment, however, the oil market has returned to balance less than twelve months after one of the largest shocks since the World War Two.

☆ Oil falls as earthquake impact on crude eases, rate hike fears rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude settled at $84.50 a barrel, losing 59 cents, or 0.7%. U.S. crude stocks rose last week to 455.1 million barrels, their highest since June 2021, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday, which also pushed oil prices lower. The prospect of stronger demand from China provided some support to oil prices, as the world's second largest oil consumer ended more than three years of stringent zero-COVID policy. "Overall, this should push global demand up by 2.1 million barrels a day in 2023." A weaker U.S. dollar, which typically trades inversely with oil, also helped limit losses in crude prices.

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped in U.S. trading hours on Thursday after the country's oil inventories hit their highest in months and on signs that the Federal Reserve could keep raising interest rates. "Relentlessly rising U.S. commercial inventories and potentially entrenched inflation limit any immediate upside potential," said PVM analyst Tamas Varga. He said recovering Chinese demand and falling inflation were set to support oil prices in the second half of the year. Crude oil stocks in the United States rose last week to their highest since June 2021, helped by higher production, the Energy Information Administration said. read more GLOB/MKTSBut the prospect of stronger demand from China provided some support to oil prices, as the world's second largest oil consumer ended more than three years of stringent zero-COVID policy.

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices were steady on Thursday, as optimism over recovering Chinese demand was offset by U.S. oil inventories hitting their highest in months and signs the U.S. Federal Reserve could keep raising interest rates. He said recovering Chinese demand and falling inflation were set to support oil prices in the second half of the year. Crude oil stocks in the United States rose last week to their highest since June 2021, helped by higher production, the Energy Information Administration said. read more GLOB/MKTSBut the prospect of stronger demand from China lent some support to oil prices, as the world's second-largest oil consumer ended more than three years of stringent zero-COVID policy. "We expect Chinese oil consumption to increase by around 1.0 million barrels a day this year, with strong growth emerging as early as late in Q1," analysts from ANZ bank wrote in a note.

Here is why:DEPRESSED DEMAND FOR FUELSChina is the world's largest crude importer and second- largest oil consuming nation, second only to the United States. But in 2022, strict government intervention to contain coronavirus cases starkly reduced industrial and economic output as well as demand for travel. China's measures depressed oil demand by as much as 30% to 40% in China, according to analyst estimates. Overall economic activity also declined across the globe, most notably in China but also in the United States. The market's rally was also built in part on fears that a series of sanctions imposed on Russia by European nations and the United States would throttle that nation's supply.

UNMASKINGGlobal oil and energy consumption have been falling since the third quarter under the impact of exceptionally high prices and a slowing economy. But the impact was initially masked by concerns about the planned introduction of the price cap on Russia's crude and refined products exports. Traders anticipated the price cap and Russia's response would cut production by more than the economic slowdown cut consumption. LESSONS FROM 2014The recent slump in oil prices shares some, though not all, characteristics with the slump occurring in the third quarter of 2014 ("A brief history of the oil crash", Reuters, January 2015). It is also probable recent hedge fund liquidation has exaggerated the recent fall in oil prices creating some headroom for a short-term rebound; positions are now unusually low.

☆ Oil steady as China revival hopes offset Russia uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Trixie Sher Li Yap | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Brent crude futures edged up 3 cents, or 0.04%, to $79.38 a barrel by 0717 GMT, after they fell below $80 for the second time in 2022 during the previous trading session. U.S. crude futures mostly traded sideways, and were down 9 cents or 0.12% to $74.16 a barrel. "China has (been) rapidly eased COVID-19 restrictions, which may boost demand," markets analyst Leon Li at CMC Markets said in a note. The reopening could see a 1% boost to global oil demand, ANZ said in a client note. Oil prices have dropped by more than 1% for three straight sessions, giving up most of their gains for the year.

SINGAPORE, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Oil futures edged slightly higher on Wednesday on hopes for improved Chinese demand while uncertainty about how a Western cap on Russian oil prices would play out kept markets on edge after a sharp fall the previous session. U.S. crude futures clawed back earlier losses and were steady from the previous close at $74.25 a barrel. "China has (been) rapidly eased COVID-19 restrictions, which may boost demand," markets analyst Leon Li at CMC Markets said in a note. However, uncertainty on how the price cap on Russian oil would play out on supply contributed to volatility. Oil prices have dropped by more than 1% for three straight sessions, giving up most of their gains for the year.

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