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/ News / World/  Oil Holds Above $41 With Weaker Dollar, Falling U.S. Stockpiles
BackBack

Oil Holds Above $41 With Weaker Dollar, Falling U.S. Stockpiles

After rebounding swiftly from April lows, crude prices have struggled to find direction in recent weeks as the resurgence of pandemic looms again

Pipework runs between storage silos (Bloomberg)Premium
Pipework runs between storage silos (Bloomberg)

Oil edged higher as U.S. crude stockpiles were set to have fallen last week, while the dollar slid again.

Futures in New York rose 1.1%. U.S. inventories fell by 6.83 million barrels, the American Petroleum Institute reported but said that gasoline supplies rose, according to people familiar with the data. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot index fell 0.3%, heading for its lowest close since September 2018.

Investors are waiting for the conclusion of a Federal Reserve policy meeting on Wednesday, with the U.S. central bank expected to signal it will keep interest rates near zero for longer as the coronavirus continues to surge. Florida reported a record death toll, while a resurgence of cases across the Asia-Pacific is being viewed as an early warning sign for the rest of the world.

After rebounding swiftly from April lows, crude prices have struggled to find direction in recent weeks as the resurgent pandemic threatens the global energy demand recovery. Consultant Rystad Energy AS said it expects a second virus wave and additional barrels from the OPEC+ alliance to result in a global supply glut for the next four months.

“The upshot is that the specter of renewed containment measures looms large" over the market, said PVM Oil Associates analyst Stephen Brennock. “All the while, market players await further U.S. stimulus."

The U.S. crude benchmark’s three-month timespread was 70 cents a barrel in contango -- where near-dated contracts are cheaper than later-dated ones -- compared with 31 cents in contango at the end of June. The change in the market structure indicates concerns about oversupply have risen this month.

As the market recovery teeters, the world’s largest independent oil storage company, Royal Vopak NV, said that its tanks are filling and almost all space remains booked up. While not necessarily an echo of the scramble for storage that pushed prices below zero earlier in the year, it’s a reminder of the level of uncertainty that exists in the oil markets.

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!

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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: 29 Jul 2020, 02:56 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App