Mfarhanonline Business News LONDON: World oil prices rose on Wednesday amid uncertainty over energy demand before the weekly snapshot of crude inventories in top consumer the United States, and a vote on the Greek debt crisis.
New York”s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in August, gained 87 cents to $93.76 a barrel, after soaring $2.28 on Tuesday. Brent North Sea crude for August jumped $1.01 to $109.79 in London midday trade after leaping $2.79 the day before.
Lawmakers in Athens were voting later on Wednesday on austerity measures demanded by international creditors in exchange for the money that Greece urgently needs to avoid default.
The oil market had also rallied on Tuesday as traders took their cue from buoyant stock markets and signs that Europe would hash out a deal to defuse the Greek debt crisis.
Investors are on edge about a potential Greek default that could shatter confidence, send shockwaves across global financial markets and slash demand for energy.
The oil market also eyed stormy weather in the Gulf of Mexico, where many energy installations are based, and reports of falling crude stockpiles in the United States.
“Oil prices were higher yesterday, as investors awaited the outcome of voting on a package of measures in Greece, which would enable the country to avoid default,” said Westhouse Securities analyst Andrew Matharu.
“In addition, the Gulf of Mexico has seen its first tropical storm of this year”s hurricane season and, after hours, the API reported a 2.7-million-barrel drop in crude supplies, ahead of expectations.”
Tropical Storm Arlene formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, US forecasters said, becoming the first named storm of the hurricane season in the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, industry body the American Petroleum Institute (API) said that oil stocks fell 2.7 million barrels in the week to June 24. That was far more than analysts” forecast for a drawdown of 1.4 million barrels.
The market will get another reading later Wednesday when the US government”s Department of Energy will publish its weekly snapshot of inventories.
Falling reserves indicate strengthening demand in the United States, which is the world”s biggest economy and largest oil-consuming nation.(AFP)
Share and Enjoy:
0 comments :
Post a Comment