Oil declines a second day on US supplies, trade deal impasse
Futures decline as much as 1.2% in New York after falling by a similar amount on Monday
London: Oil dropped for a second day on indications American crude stockpiles and shale output will keep expanding, while investors wait for a breakthrough in US-China trade talks.
Futures declined as much as 1.2 per cent in New York after falling by a similar amount on Monday when they dropped by most since November 6. US oil inventories probably rose by 1.5 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey before government data on Wednesday, while shale output at major fields is expected to increase next month. Markets are also being pressured by the impasse in trade discussions between the US and China.
The ebb and flow of trade talks between Washington and Beijing has weighed on oil prices, which have fallen around 15% from an April peak. While negotiators held “constructive discussions” over the weekend, CNBC reported on Monday that China is pessimistic about reaching a deal due to President Donald Trump’s reluctance to roll back existing tariffs.
“The uptrend from early October is being challenged as the market seems to have run out of supporting news,” said Ole Sloth Hansen, head of commodities strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen. “The US-China trade deal remains elusive.”
West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 54 cents, or 1 per cent, to $56.51 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 10:36am in London. The contract slid 1.2 per cent to settle at $57.05 on Monday, dropping from the highest close in almost eight weeks. The front-month contract will expire on Wednesday.
Brent for January settlement slipped 54 cents to $61.90 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe Exchange. The contract lost 1.4 per cent to close at $62.44 on Monday. The global benchmark crude traded at a $5.29 premium to WTI for the same month.
US crude stockpiles are at the highest level in four months. If official government data confirms the forecast increase in inventories, it would be the fourth weekly advance.
Output at major American shale fields will climb by 49,000 barrels a day to 9.13 million barrels a day in December, according to a drilling report from the Energy Information Administration. The EIA boosted its estimates for November’s shale output to 9.08 million barrels a day from 8.97 million.
“The EIA’s latest drilling report gave the market a bit of a punch to the stomach,” said Hansen. “In recent weeks the focus on a potential slowdown in the U.S. production has supported the market. Just the fact it was an increase was enough to dent the positive price impact otherwise seen recently.”