Oil prices inch lower as demand forecasts reduced, supply rises

NEW YORK Oil prices edged lower on Friday as investors feared demand would recover more slowly than expected from COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, while rising supply also overshadowed optimism over falling crude and fuel inventories.

This week, two prominent forecasters, the International Energy Agency and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, trimmed their 2020 oil demand forecasts.

OPEC and its allies are increasing output this month.

“Pessimism about this year’s oil demand growth prospects is due to the weakening outlook in the coming months,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.

“To make matters worse, global oil supply is on the upswing.”

Brent crude fell 19 cents, or 0.4%, to $44.77 by 11:38 a.m. EDT (1538 GMT), but still heading for a rise of 0.9% this week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was down 19 cents, or 0.5%, at $42.05 and was on track for a 2% rise.

Prices had been bolstered this week by U.S. government data showing crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories falling last week as refiners ramped up production and demand for oil products rose.

“If that trend continues, it’s very supportive of prices and should drive prices higher,” said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago.

“What’s holding us back on that sentiment is that the market is still afraid of what is going to happen next with the virus.”

Oil has recovered from lows touched in April, when WTI briefly turned negative. Still, a rise in the number of novel coronavirus infections has limited gains. India reported another record daily rise in cases on Thursday.

OPEC and allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+, have cut output since May by around 10% of pre-pandemic global demand to support the market. The deal calls for an increase in output this month as demand recovers.

An OPEC+ panel meets on Wednesday to review the market.

Also Watch

74th Independence Day: Yuva On ‘Vishwaguru Bharat’ | The Right Stand | CNN News18

(Additional reporting by Alex Lawler and Aaron Sheldrick; Editing by Ken Ferris, Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Louise Heavens and David Gregorio)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor


Array
(
[videos] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[id] => 5f36bc81046bae25c91dba3a
[youtube_id] => jRvF9C0u6JU
Oil prices inch lower as demand forecasts reduced, supply rises => 74th Independence Day: Yuva On ‘Vishwaguru Bharat’ | The Right Stand | CNN News18
)

[1] => Array
(
[id] => 5f36b411a07a3a25bbc1d03d
[youtube_id] => 506mYOcer7M
Oil prices inch lower as demand forecasts reduced, supply rises => Indian Flag To Be Hoisted For 1stTime At New York Times Square On Independence Day | CNN News18
)

)

[query] => https://pubstack.nw18.com/pubsync/v1/api/videos/recommended?source=n18english&channels=5d95e6c378c2f2492e2148a2,5d95e6c278c2f2492e214884,5d96f74de3f5f312274ca307&categories=5d95e6d7340a9e4981b2e10a&publish_min=2020-08-11T22:02:04.000Z&publish_max=2020-08-14T22:02:04.000Z&sort_by=date-relevance&order_by=0&limit=2
)

Speak Your Mind

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Get in Touch

350FansLike
100FollowersFollow
281FollowersFollow
150FollowersFollow

Recommend for You

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Subscribe and receive our weekly newsletter packed with awesome articles that really matters to you!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

You might also like

Venture funding soared to record $64 billion in Q1

Coming off a boom year for the tech industry, investors spent the early part...

New York City is ‘on the edge of a...

A health worker takes a swab sample from a man to test for the...

New York’s Legendary H&H Bagels Helps Ease The COVID-19...

Bagel shops everywhere have closed during stay home orders,...