Audio By Carbonatix
Oil rose on Wednesday, hitting $40 a barrel for the first time since March, supported by lower U.S. inventories, expectations OPEC+ will keep oil output cuts in place and signs of demand recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Suggesting a supply glut is on the way out, the American Petroleum Institute said on Tuesday U.S. crude inventories fell by 483,000 barrels. The government’s official supply report is due out later on Wednesday.
Brent crude futures for August were up 59 cents, or 1.5%, at $40.16 by 0840 GMT, reaching a high of $40.53, the highest since March 6. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July gained 80 cents, or 2.2%, to $37.61.
“A consensus is emerging that the producer group will prolong current cuts,” said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM, referring to OPEC and its allies.
Both benchmarks have surged in recent weeks. Brent has more than doubled after hitting a 21-year low below $16 in April, when U.S. crude went negative. A recovery in China and the easing of government lockdowns elsewhere is supporting prices.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russia, known as OPEC+, are cutting output by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd), about 10% of pre-coronavirus global output, in May and June to support prices.
OPEC+, encouraged by signs of recovery in the market, is considering extending the 9.7 million bpd cut beyond June. But there has been no agreement yet on bringing forward a ministerial meeting to Thursday from later in June as currently scheduled.
“When you have Brent approaching $40, it is a good sign,” said an OPEC delegate. “We are on the right track.”
The demand outlook appears stronger. The services sector in China, the world’s second-biggest oil consumer, returned to growth for the first time since January, a survey showed.
“As virus-related lockdown measures continue to be lifted, we expect that demand will gradually recover,” Capital Economics said in a report.
Latest Stories
-
High Court bars investigative journalist from publishing on private individual, imposes GH¢10,000 cost
19 seconds -
‘Inconsistent Vinicius Jnr not on Neymar’s level’ – ex Botafogo manager
10 minutes -
T-bills: Government records 47% oversubscription; interest rates fall
19 minutes -
OSP deserves a second chance; it must decentralise its operations
36 minutes -
Dafeamekpor says OSP is “guzzling money”
45 minutes -
Stabilising the cedi should not come at the expense of Ghanaian workers
53 minutes -
A-G to reveal details of high-profile corruption probe as Airline Task Force submits report
54 minutes -
Craig Richards, ‘Worldwide’, the winners from Legacy Rise and Match Room’s historic boxing night in Accra
57 minutes -
Focus OSP debate on the institution, not the Special Prosecutor – Abu Jinapor
1 hour -
Anti-corruption fight must go beyond paper laws – Dafeamakpor
1 hour -
All pupils kidnapped from Nigeria Catholic school now free – officials
1 hour -
Constitution Review Committee presents final report to President Mahama today
1 hour -
Trump image within Epstein files reinstated by US justice department after backlash
1 hour -
Diaspora partnership central to Ghana’s reset agenda – Vice President
1 hour -
Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say
2 hours
