Latest News

Oil retreats on demand issues after Fed signals slower relieving ahead

Oil costs fell in Asian trade on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated it would slow the speed of rate of interest cuts in 2025, which could slow financial growth and lower fuel need.

Brent futures fell 47 cents, or 0.6%, to $72.92. a barrel by 0515 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude. fell 39 cents, or 0.6%, to $70.19.

The declines reversed most of the benchmark contracts' gains. from Wednesday, when prices settled higher as U.S. unrefined stocks. fell and the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis. points as anticipated.

Prices compromised after U.S. main bankers issued. forecasts requiring two quarter-point rates of interest cuts in. 2025 on issues about rising inflation. That was half a point. less than they had prepared for since September.

Lower rates decrease borrowing costs, which can enhance. financial development and demand for oil.

The demand-supply balance going into 2025 continues to look. damaging and predictions of more than 1.0 million bpd need. development in 2025 look extended in our opinion. Even if OPEC+. continues to keep production, the market might still remain in. surplus, DBS Bank's energy sector team lead Suvro Sarkar said.

Meanwhile, although need in the very first half of December. increased year-on-year, volumes stayed lower than anticipated by some. experts.

JP Morgan analysts said in a note that international oil demand. growth for December up until now was 700,000 barrels per day less than. it had actually anticipated, and for the year-to-date, international demand had. increased by 200,000 bpd less than it had actually forecast in November 2023.

Authorities information from the Energy Details Administration. on Wednesday revealed U.S. crude stocks fell by 934,000 barrels in. the week to Dec. 13, compared to experts' expectations in a. Reuters poll for a 1.6 million-barrel draw.

While the drawdown was less than expected, the market found. assistance in the data as U.S. crude exports increased by 1.8 million. bpd recently to 4.89 million bpd.

(source: Reuters)