MARKET NEWS
Oil declines after tightening market spurs robust New Year rally - BLOOMBERG
Oil fell as traders weighed the impact of the omicron wave on Asian demand, which blunted a new year rally in prices powered by lower U.S. stockpiles, positive commentary from energy agencies, and supply glitches.
West Texas Intermediate was 0.6 per cent lower after closing Wednesday at the highest level since Nov. 9 on Wednesday. Since 2022 began WTI has still surged more than nine per cent, joining other commodities in a strong start to the year.
Road traffic has thinned across Asia at the start of the year as the fast-spreading omicron variant sweeps through the region. Fewer vehicles have transited most capital cities so far this month than in December, according to mobility data from Apple Inc. In China, which is battling an omicron outbreak, efforts at containment are inflicting mounting economic damage.
Crude remains higher this month on signals that consumption outside Asia is largely weathering the hit from omicron as key economies continue to recover from the pandemic. The International Energy Agency has said demand is stronger than expected, while the Energy Information Administration’s latest outlook showed that global oil inventories are set to decline this quarter.
Sentiment “remains largely constructive,” said Warren Patterson, Singapore-based head of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV after the EIA reported lower stockpiles, while cautioning the recent run-up in prices may have been exaggerated. In recent days, “supply disruptions, uncertainty over OPEC spare capacity and waning concerns over omicron have all proved bullish,” he said.
Prices
- WTI for February delivery fell 0.6 per cent to US$82.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 7:37 a.m. in London.
- Brent for March settlement eased 0.5 per cent to US$84.21 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange.
On Wednesday, the EIA reported U.S. crude stockpiles sank to the lowest level since 2018. Inventories at the key storage hub in Cushing also fell.
Underlying optimism about the outlook is reflected in the market’s bullish backwardated pricing structure, with near-term contracts holding above those further out. The spread between WTI’s two nearest December contracts -- the one for 2022 and for the same month next year -- was at US$6.34 a barrel. That’s up from less than US$5 at the end of last year.
Oil’s year-to-date surge -- along with gains in other raw materials -- will fan inflationary pressures as central banks shift gears to battle escalating price pressures. Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said tackling inflation while sustaining an inclusive recovery is the U.S. central bank’s most pressing task.
Related coverage:
- Technical indicators may be flashing a warning sign for the U.S. crude oil benchmark.
- Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s trading unit was granted a loan of crude from the U.S. strategic reserves as part of the Biden Administration’s push to cool retail gasoline prices.
- Exxon Mobil Corp. is looking to sell its Canadian shale assets to focus on Alberta’s oil sands