Oil steady as downbeat Chinese data offset demand hopes

admin admin | 06-18 00:30

Markets in key oil trading hub Singapore and other countries in the region were closed for a public holiday on Monday.
Oil was steady on Monday after Chinese economic data underscoring a bumpy recovery for the world's biggest crude importer offset hopes for a boost to demand from the summer driving season in the northern hemisphere.

Apart from retail sales that beat forecasts due to a holiday boost, the flurry of Chinese data on Monday was largely downbeat. The data followed a survey on Friday showing U.S. consumer sentiment fell to a seven-month low in June.

Global benchmark Brent crude futures were up 6 cents at USD 82.68 a barrel at 0805 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures added 2 cents to USD 78.47.

Last week, both benchmarks posted their first weekly gain in four weeks on elevated confidence that oil inventories are set to plunge as the summer season gets under way in the northern hemisphere.

"The move higher was not unreservedly convincing," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM of last week's gains. "Further weakness is observed this morning due to sluggish Chinese factory activity."

Reports from OPEC and the International Energy Agency last week, although differing on the strength of oil demand growth this year, had supported confidence that inventories would be drawn down in the second half.

"Last week's robust rally was fuelled by forecasts of strong 2024 demand from OPEC+ and the IEA. However, given OPEC's vested interest in crude oil, there is some scepticism around OPEC's forecasts," said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG in Singapore.

"Friday's soft U.S. consumer confidence numbers suggest that the resilience of the American consumer and the U.S. economy will be tested as households run down their savings to combat higher interest rates and cost-of-living pressures," he added.

On the geopolitical front, concerns of a wider Middle East war lingered after the Israeli military said on Sunday that intensified cross-border fire from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement into Israel could trigger serious escalation.

Markets in key oil trading hub Singapore and other countries in the region were closed for a public holiday on Monday.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.


ALSO READ

Ola Electric responds to ARAI notice, says prices of S1 X 2 kWh scooter unchanged

Ola Electric provided an invoice dated October 6, showing a INR 5,000 discount given to customers, a...

Hyundai Motor IPO’s off to a slow start

Around 35% of the total shares in the offering are reserved for retail investors, while QIBs and NII...

Under fire, Ola Electric taps EY India to get back on track

Close to a dozen executives from EY came on-board at Ola Electric a few weeks ago on deputation for ...

Tata Motors secures 5-star BNCAP safety ratings for Nexon, Curvv, and EV models in latest crash tests

Tata Curvv.EV BNCAP testTata Motors did it again! Tata Motors has once again secured 5 star rating i...

India needs to step up manufacturing to meet Viksit Bharat goal: Volvo Grp India MD

Volvo Group India Managing Director and President, Kamal Bali. The manufacturing sector is a weak li...

Dollar pullback to help Indian rupee, weak risk appetite to weigh

Investors are now nearly certain that the U.S. Federal Reserve will deliver a 25-basis-point rate cu...