Oil prices steady after sharp declines on weak U.S. demand

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Commodity

Oil

Writer

IPG Staff2

Oil · 22 July, 2022

Oil prices steady after sharp declines on weak U.S. demand

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Oil prices were roughly unchanged in early trading on Friday after sliding around 3% in the previous session on weakened demand in the United States, the world's top oil consumer, and a pick-up in supply from Libya.

Commodity

Oil

Writer

IPG Staff2

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Brent crude futures rose 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $104.03
a barrel at 0041 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures

were flat at $96.35 a barrel.

 

WTI has been pummelled over the past two sessions
after data showed that U.S. gasoline demand had dropped nearly 8% from a year

earlier in the midst of the peak summer driving season, hit by record prices at

the pump.

 

"At 8.52 million barrels per day, demand is at
its lowest seasonal level since 2008, as high gasoline prices take their toll

on consumers," ANZ Research analysts said in a note.

 

The drop in WTI put the contract on track for a 1.3%
drop this week, which would be its third consecutive weekly loss.

 

Related video: U.S. existing home sales slide again;
prices hit fresh record high (Reuters)

 

In contrast, signs of strong demand in Asia propped up
the Brent benchmark, putting it on course for its first weekly gain in six

weeks.

 

Demand in India for gasoline and distillate fuels rose

to record highs in June, despite higher prices, with total refined product

consumption running at 18% more than a year ago and Indian refineries operating

near their busiest levels ever, RBC analysts said.

"This signals much more than a strong recovery
from COVID-plagued years," RBC analyst Michael Tran said in a note.

 

On the supply side, the restart of output at several
oilfields in Libya this week kept a lid on Brent's gains.

 

Meanwhile the European Central Bank (ECB) raised rates
more than expected on Thursday looking to rein in inflation, with ECB President

Christine Lagarde warning that inflation risks had intensified, with the

Ukraine war likely to drag on and energy prices likely to stay high for longer.

 

"Is the horizon clouded? Of course it is,"
Lagarde said.

However, she said, the central bank's base case is
there will be no recession this year or next year.

 

By:  Sonali Paul / July 22, 2022 54min ago