Selloff or Market Correction? Either Way, Here's What to Do NextSee Overvalued Stocks

Oil Prices Continue to Decline as Buying from Increased OPEC Cuts Fades

Published 21/12/2018, 10:15
© Reuters.
LCO
-
CL
-
NG
-
NYF
-
GPR
-

Investing.com - Although oil prices bounced higher in overnight trade as OPEC said it would make deeper-than-expected quotas of its output cuts public, optimism faded in early morning trade on Friday as crude headed for the largest weekly decline in a month as concerns over weak economic growth and rising U.S. shale production outweighed hopes that the cartel could keep the global supply glut in check.

New York-traded West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 18 cents, or 0.39%, at $45.70 a barrel by 5:05 AM ET (10:05 GMT), on track for a weekly decline of 10%.

Meanwhile, Brent crude futures, the benchmark for oil prices outside the U.S., traded down 44 cents, or 0.81%, to $53.91, also down 10% on the week.

Prices had briefly moved higher overnight as OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said in a letter seen by Reuters that member states should reduce output to 3.02%, which is higher than the originally agreed figure of 2.5%, according to a letter seen.

Barkindo also reportedly said that member countries would make their quotas public and applauded Saudi Arabis for pledging to reduce output in 10.2 million barrels per day, more than allocated.

The cartel is expected to publish the full list of supply cuts by the end of next week.

“The current oil prices will force OPEC to increase compliance with the production cut deals, supporting Brent prices. The temporary recovery in prices has been driven by short-sellers buying back,” Wang Xiao, head of crude research at Guotai Junan futures said.

But buying interest faded in early morning trade, falling further from their peak in October as concerns over oil demand increased because of a slowing global economy and signs of oversupply.

Stephen Innes, head of trading for Asia-Pacific at OANDA said in a note that market volatility was "getting exaggerated by immensely thin liquidity conditions, risk sentiment, and holiday market participation".

Worries of a global supply glut will remain in the spotlight on Friday as investors keep an eye on a measure of future U.S. output with Baker Hughes’ weekly data out at 1:00 PM (18:00 GMT).

Bulls hold hopes that the number of active domestic rigs drilling for oil will register its third straight decline, after falling last week by four to 873, the lowest since mid-October.

In other energy trading, gasoline futures slumped 1.12% to $1.3171 a gallon by 5:12 AM ET (10:12 GMT), while heating oil dropped 0.58% to $1.7395 a gallon.

Lastly, natural gas futures traded up 1.67% to $3.643 per million British thermal units, supported by data that showed a larger-than-expected decline in stockpiles last week.

-- Reuters contributed to this report.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.