Oil Drops With China Demand Worries Lingering and Dollar Gaining

(Bloomberg)

Oil dipped ahead of US inflation figures that will provide clues about the prospects for the world’s largest economy, while China’s Covid Zero policy continues to weigh on the demand outlook.West Texas Intermediate slipped near $85 a barrel, pressured by a stronger greenback, making commodities price in the currency less attractive. China’s top leaders reiterated the need to stick to the nation’s Covid Zero policy, while urging more targeting measures to fight the virus. The country is now adding curbs in the southern manufacturing hub of Guangzhou,.

China's Covid Zero policy, higher US oil stockpiles weigh on prices

After Brent crude rallied toward $100 earlier this week, prices have pulled back on concerns about the demand outlook. Still, futures have regained some ground this quarter after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies agreed to reduce supply, and traders are now looking ahead to US inflation data due later.

US CPI data should provide some guidance as to how successful the Fed’s efforts in tackling inflation are, said Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM Oil Associates. “Chinese Covid-related demand woes, the reinvigorated dollar and a loose 4Q oil balance could push prices further south, but it is worth remembering that the EU oil boycott and the G7 price cap are less than a month away.”

ROO.AI Oil and Gas Field Service Software

The disruption to Russian oil flows is creating turmoil in the oil tanker market. Benchmark supertanker earnings neared $80,000 a day on Wednesday, the highest level since May 2020. Tanker owners have said in earnings calls that they expect cargo distances to increase in the coming months due to sanctions on Russian exports.

Prices: