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Oil rates slip for fifth session as need worries pressure belief

Oil rates succumbed to a 5th session on Thursday as global demand concerns put in pressure on the marketplace despite a decline in U.S. fuel stocks.

Brent crude futures slipped 9 cents to $75.96 a. barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures. fell 19 cents to trade at $71.74 at 0433 GMT.

The front-month WTI contract for October has actually dropped. 6.9% given that Aug. 15, while Brent futures are down 6.4% over the. same duration.

Prices have actually plunged amidst a report on Wednesday of. modified work stats in the U.S., the world's most significant. oil consumer, that showed fewer tasks were added in 2024 than. formerly reported and weak financial data recently from China,. the world's second-largest economy and biggest oil importer.

Oil investors are also anticipating the Organization of the. Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies such as. Russia, referred to as OPEC+, will raise some voluntary output cuts in. October, adding more supply.

Weak international demand and the possible danger on OPEC+. rolling back on their production cuts are weighing on oil, said. Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova,. including that dispute in the Middle East and geopolitical. stress are tilting risks to the advantage.

Issues on how OPEC+ production would work out in the. fourth quarter if the cuts are lifted has actually intensified price. weak point, though they could be

paused or reversed if required

.

The down pressure on costs makes it progressively. likely that OPEC+ will have to ditch their plans for slowly. increasing supply from October. Stopping working to do so, will likely. put additional pressure on rates, stated ING experts in a customer. note.

Unrefined prices have been slipping regardless of a U.S. government

report

on Wednesday revealing U.S. crude, gasoline and distillate. inventories fell in the week ending Aug. 16, at the exact same time. refinery runs increased.

In spite of stock draws throughout crude and other key. major items ... weak Chinese oil import data and controlled. middle extract need in the US have assisted to lower. geopolitical danger premium for the oil complex, stated Citi. experts in a client note.

Geopolitical concerns from the Israel-Gaza war have. eased in the past week as the U.S., Israel and Hamas are attempting. to work out a

ceasefire deal

, though U.S. diplomatic efforts earlier today ended. without a truce.

Upside catalysts for oil might seem minimal in the meantime, with. rising chances of a ceasefire in the Middle East, which saw market. participants evaluating a few of the geopolitical threats, IG. market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said in an e-mail.

(source: Reuters)