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Oil prices rise on tighter supply, geopolitical threats

Oil prices ticked up in early Asian trading on Monday, firming up gains from last week when prices rose almost 4% on the view that supply was tightening.

Brent crude oil futures for May shipment inched up 3 cents to $85.37 a barrel by 0045 GMT. The April agreement for U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 10 cents to $ 81.14.

Geopolitical risks likewise remain elevated, analysts from ANZ composed in a note, pointing to a stepped-up campaign of Ukranian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries over the recently.

On Saturday, one of the strikes triggered a short fire at the Slavyansk refinery in Kasnodar, which processes 8.5 million metric lots of petroleum a year, or 170,000 barrels each day.

A analysis found the attacks have actually idled around 7% of Russian refining capability in the first quarter.

In the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu validated on Sunday he will proceed with strategies to push into Gaza's Rafah enclave where more than 1 million displaced individuals are safeguarding, defying pressure from Israel's allies. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated the action would make local peace really hard.

This week, investors are considering the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's two-day conference to be disclosed on Wednesday. That will bring more clarity on the timing of rates of interest cuts, Tony Sycamore, a market expert with IG, wrote in a note.

The Fed will likely keep rates the same this month, while the possibility of rate of interest cuts at the June conference is. now a coin flip, Sycamore stated.

Lower interest rates would promote need in the U.S.,. supporting oil prices.

Both benchmark oil contracts completed last week nearly 4%. higher regardless of a dip on Friday. Oil been rangebound for much of. the last month, however on Thursday a bullish need report from the. International Energy Agency sent out rates increasing to their highest. level given that November.

The company, which represents industrialised countries, had. enhanced its demand outlook for the fourth time because. November as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea drove vessels to. divert, increasing fuel intake. For the first time, IEA. Forecasted a minor deficit this year, instead of a surplus.

U.S. fuel demand likewise supported costs as refineries. finished some projects.

Since Friday's close, Brent and WTI futures were up 11% and. 13%, respectively, in 2024.

(source: Reuters)