Oil prices fell
on Wednesday as renewed concerns over global demand and high stock
levels halted a rally that pushed up prices by about 19 percent over the
past four sessions.
But weak data from key consumer
China has rekindled demand concerns, dragging on oil prices.
"A steady stream of news regarding falling capital expenditure from the industry and a drop in U.S. oil rigs in operation appears to be the spark," ANZ analysts said. "While sentiment appears to have shifted, volatility will remain high."
Brent was 53 cents lower at $57.38 a barrel by 0911 GMT, after gaining almost 6 percent on Tuesday and off a near six-year low of $45.19 reached in mid-January.
U.S. crude was down 88 cents at $52.17 a barrel. It settled up 7 percent on Tuesday, after trading at $54.24 earlier in the day - above a near six-year low of $43.58 hit last week.
A report from the industry group American Petroleum Institute showing U.S. crude stocks rose more than 6 million barrels last week pushed prices down on Wednesday.
"Longer-dated prices are moving towards a range that could allow producers to hedge, which would prevent any material slowdown in U.S. supply," Morgan Stanley analysts said.
Energy companies facing lower crude prices have cut rig count with the number of U.S. rigs drilling for oil down by 61 in the week to Jan. 9, the most in 24 years, data from oil services firm Baker Hughes has showed.
Oil major BP and top Chinese offshore energy producer CNOOC Ltd said on Tuesday they would deepen capital investment cuts this year to adapt to lower oil prices.
The outlook for oil demand has also been muddied by data showing China's services sector grew at the slowest pace in six months in January.
"A steady stream of news regarding falling capital expenditure from the industry and a drop in U.S. oil rigs in operation appears to be the spark," ANZ analysts said. "While sentiment appears to have shifted, volatility will remain high."
Brent was 53 cents lower at $57.38 a barrel by 0911 GMT, after gaining almost 6 percent on Tuesday and off a near six-year low of $45.19 reached in mid-January.
U.S. crude was down 88 cents at $52.17 a barrel. It settled up 7 percent on Tuesday, after trading at $54.24 earlier in the day - above a near six-year low of $43.58 hit last week.
A report from the industry group American Petroleum Institute showing U.S. crude stocks rose more than 6 million barrels last week pushed prices down on Wednesday.
"Longer-dated prices are moving towards a range that could allow producers to hedge, which would prevent any material slowdown in U.S. supply," Morgan Stanley analysts said.
Energy companies facing lower crude prices have cut rig count with the number of U.S. rigs drilling for oil down by 61 in the week to Jan. 9, the most in 24 years, data from oil services firm Baker Hughes has showed.
Oil major BP and top Chinese offshore energy producer CNOOC Ltd said on Tuesday they would deepen capital investment cuts this year to adapt to lower oil prices.
The outlook for oil demand has also been muddied by data showing China's services sector grew at the slowest pace in six months in January.
No comments:
Post a Comment