Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Money / Oil below $67 on weak US housing data
BackBack

Oil below $67 on weak US housing data

Oil below $67 on weak US housing data

Premium

London: Oil pared gains and stood below $67 (Rs3,263) a barrel on Tuesday as weak headline US housing data renewed doubts over the pace of economic recovery in the world’s largest energy user. Investors were also awaiting weekly US fuel inventory reports due later on Tuesday and Wednesday, expected to show crude stockpiles have risen for the fourth straight week.

US crude for September delivery was up 12 cents at $66.87 a barrel by 7.10pm, off an earlier high of $67.80. London Brent crude for October was down 35 cents at $70.19.

US stock market futures pared gains after a government report said on Tuesday new US housing starts and permits unexpectedly fell in July, increasing fears that talk of economic recovery may have been overdone.

Meanwhile, US producer prices fell by a larger-than-expected amount in July and notched a record decline compared with a year earlier as the US recession continued to keep inflation at bay.

“The housing starts were a bit disappointing, but the inflation number came in better than expected... I think we are going to be in consolidation mode. There’s some profit taking going on right now," said John Spinello, chief treasury strategist at Jefferies and Co. Inc. in New York.

Dan Flynn, analyst at PFGBest Research in Chicago, said: “The PPI (Producer Price Index) number and the housing data helped push crude lower."

Oil investors will now turn their focus to inventory data.

The release of weekly fuel stocks data by the American Petroleum Institute later on Tuesday will be followed by US government figures from the Energy Information Agency on Wednesday, with analysts expecting more signs of weak US demand.

A preliminary Reuters poll of analysts predicts crude stocks rose by one million barrels, as higher imports offset a slight increase in refinery activity.

Distillate stocks were seen up 400,000 barrels and petrol stocks down 1.4 million barrels.

Oil investors continued to monitor the growth of Hurricane Bill, the first of this year’s season, which might disrupt oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Bill was expected to strengthen to a major category 3 storm by Wednesday, while the remnants of Tropical Storm Ana dissipated without threatening the US Gulf oil patch, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Energy markets are jittery over Gulf storms because the region produces a quarter of US oil and 15% of its natural gas.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 18 Aug 2009, 08:45 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App