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Oil prices tumble as investors brace for international slowdown: Kemp

Investors deserted much of their staying bullish petroleum positions recently in the middle of growing issues about lacklustre usage and an intensifying outlook for the global economy.

Hedge funds and other money supervisors sold the equivalent of 117 million barrels in the six essential futures and choices agreements over the 7 days ending on July 30.

Fund managers had offered petroleum in each of the most current four weeks, cutting their net position by an overall of 262 million barrels because the start of July.

The most current week saw sales in Brent (-68 million barrels), NYMEX and ICE WTI (-31 million), U.S. gasoline (-9. million) and European gas oil (-9 million) though essentially no. change in U.S. diesel.

The combined position had actually been cut in half to just 262 million. barrels (4th percentile for all weeks considering that 2013) from 524. million barrels (40th percentile) on July 2.

Chartbook: Oil and gas positions

Fund positions had become really bearish throughout Brent (3rd. percentile), U.S. gasoline (5th percentile), U.S. diesel (14th. percentile) and European gas oil (16th percentile).

There was somewhat less bearishness towards WTI (28th. percentile), based on low stocks around the NYMEX delivery point. at Cushing and potential for a squeeze.

Bearishness throughout the complex instead of separated. agreements indicates traders are anticipating weaker worldwide. intake as the significant economies lose momentum.

Recent production studies from the United States, the. eurozone and China have actually all shown activity stalling in the. second and 3rd quarters after a quick rebound at the start of. the year.

The expected depletion of worldwide petroleum stocks has. been pressed back numerous times this year; now it looks like it. has actually been deferred once again.

As a result, front-month Brent futures contracts have. plunged listed below $76 per barrel, the most affordable given that the turn of the. year, and listed below the long-run inflation changed average.

U.S. NATURAL GAS

Investors made few changes to their essentially neutral view. on the outlook for gas costs in the United States as. stocks stayed well above typical in spite of ultra-low rates. and record gas-fired power generation.

Hedge funds and other cash supervisors acquired the. equivalent of 30 billion cubic feet (bcf) of futures and alternatives. linked to the rate of gas at Henry Center in Louisiana over the. seven days ending on July 30.

Fund managers have acquired a total of 182 bcf in the 2. newest weeks after offering an overall of 980 bcf over the four. previous weeks.

The combined net long position of 371 bcf was in the 42nd. percentile for all weeks given that 2010, broadly neutral or slightly. bearish.

Working gas inventories were still 462 bcf (+17% or +1.36. standard discrepancies) above the previous 10-year seasonal average on. July 26.

The U.S. storage injection season has passed the half-way. point so it is essentially certain inventories will start winter. 2024/25 above average.

Ultra-low gas rates have driven record gas intake by. power generators however that has been balanced out by the continued. strength in production and repetitive disruption of LNG exports.

After rallying during May and June, inflation-adjusted gas. futures prices have actually pulled away back towards the multi-decade lows. set between February and April.

From a rate and positioning viewpoint, the balance of. threats is highly weighted to the advantage, which has motivated. numerous fund managers to maintain bullish long positions.

But the very same has been true for more than a year, and the. expected deficiency of stocks and rise in costs has actually been. repeatedly postponed, which has imposed a cautious method.

Associated columns:

- U.S. power manufacturers binge on ultra-cheap gas( July 30,. 2024)

- Oil bulls pull away as inventories remain abundant (July 29,. 2024)

- U.S. crude oil costs pull away amidst doubts about further. stock draw (July 25, 2024)

John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst. The views revealed. are his own. Follow his commentary on X https://twitter.com/JKempEnergy.

(source: Reuters)