Brent and WTI Prices Dip in Wednesday Trading
Oil prices slipped away from 2019 highs on Wednesday, with surging US supply and slowing economic growth tempering upward pressure from supply cuts led by producer club OPEC and from Washington’s sanctions on Iran and Venezuela.
WTI crude oil futures hit 2019 highs of $56.39 per barrel on Wednesday but had slipped back to $56.16 per barrel, which was slightly above their last settlement, CNBC reported.
International Brent crude futures were at $66.41 per barrel, down 4 cents from their last close, though still not far off their 2019 high of $66.83 per barrel, hit on Monday.
Oil prices have been supported by supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
OPEC-member and top crude exporter Saudi Arabia is expected to reduce shipments of light crude oil to Asia in March as part of the effort to tighten markets.
OPEC as well as some non-affiliated producers such as Russia agreed late last year to cut output by 1.2 million barrels per day to prevent a large supply overhang from swelling.
“We have lowered Saudi crude oil output in line with announcements...and are now assuming that Saudi Arabia will produce in the first three quarters of 2019 less than the 10.31 million bpd target it agreed to at the Dec. 7 OPEC, non-OPEC meeting,” French bank BNP Paribas said in a note.
Because of the cuts, BNP said it expected oil prices “to rally through Q3 2019”, with Brent to average $73 per barrel by then and WTI to average $66.
Another key oil price driver has been the US sanctions on oil exporters Iran and Venezuela.
source: Financial Tribune
Top News
Five last month
Two last year
US Energy Dept finalizes $2.26bn loan for Lithium Americas’ Nevada mine
Abandoned copper mines embraced as fast track to boost output
Glencore posts lower metals output for first nine months, reiterates outlook
Mercuria eyes equity in African assets, new metals boss says
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Traders see gold as a surefire bet as coin-toss election looms
Gold price surge adds glitter to tarnished miners
Environmentalists sue over US approval of ioneer’s Nevada lithium mine
Gold price shows little reaction to jobs data
St Barbara raises $73m to fast-track Simberi sulphide production
Copper price sees biggest drop since May as Trump’s win boosts dollar
Sibanye agrees wage deal for its gold operations, union says
China’s industry ministry plans to step up lithium, cobalt, nickel exploration
Liberty Gold advances Black Pine project permitting
China zinc smelter group sets processing fees for Q1 2025
Brazil prepares to remove illegal Amazon gold miners from Munduruku land
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Ecuador to reopen mining register for first time in over six years
St Barbara raises $73m to fast-track Simberi sulphide production
Copper price sees biggest drop since May as Trump’s win boosts dollar
Sibanye agrees wage deal for its gold operations, union says
China’s industry ministry plans to step up lithium, cobalt, nickel exploration
China zinc smelter group sets processing fees for Q1 2025
Brazil prepares to remove illegal Amazon gold miners from Munduruku land
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Ecuador to reopen mining register for first time in over six years