Oil prices fell more than 2% on Friday as concerns about Chinese cities in lockdown due to coronavirus outbreaks tempered a rally driven by strong import data from the world’s biggest crude importer and U.S. plans for a large stimulus package. Brent was down $1.33, or 2.3%, at $55.17 by …
Read More »China’s Grid Struggles to Keep up with Booming Electric Demand
China’s electricity system was already becoming stretched – even before unusually cold weather descended on most of the country in December and January. In common with other fast-developing economies in Asia, China’s reliability problem stems more from rapid growth in electricity consumption than abnormal weather, with generation struggling to keep …
Read More »U.S. EIA Cuts 2021 World Oil Demand Growth Forecast
The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Tuesday cut its 2021 world oil demand growth forecast by 220,000 barrels per day from its previous estimate. In its monthly forecast, U.S. Energy Information Administration says 2022 world oil demand to hit 101.08 million bpd, up 3.31 million bpd from 2021.
Read More »OPEC Crude Output Cuts should Help U.S. shale profits in 2021
A decision by OPEC and allied countries to cut crude production through March delivered a late Christmas present for U.S. shale firms that have slashed costs, but any rise in prices spurred by the unexpected move may be just a modest stocking stuffer. U.S. crude oil production has fallen 2 …
Read More »Oil Near 11-Month Highs
Oil prices held near 11-month highs on Friday and were on track for a strong weekly gain as Saudi Arabia’s pledge to cut output continued to buoy market sentiment. Brent crude climbed 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $54.51 a barrel. It touched $54.90 on Thursday, the highest since February, Reuters …
Read More »Oil Rises to 11-Month High, Logs Weekly Gain on Saudi Output Cut
Oil prices hit their highest level in nearly a year on Friday, gaining 8% on the week, supported by Saudi Arabia’s pledge to cut output and strong gains in major equity markets. Brent crude settled at $55.99 a barrel, climbing $1.61, or 3%, on the day and 8.1% on the …
Read More »N.German State Plans Foundation to Help Complete Nord Stream 2 Gas Link
The German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern plans to set up a foundation to help the completion of the Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipeline to bring Russian gas to Germany and to fend off the threat of increased U.S. sanctions that halted work last year. The Gazprom-led $11 billion pipeline would double …
Read More »Oil Prices up $1 on OPEC Output Cut Talks, Iran Tension
Oil prices rose by around $1 on Tuesday as tension simmered following Iran’s seizure of a South Korean vessel and as the OPEC+ group studied a possible production cut in February. Brent crude futures for March rose 96 cents to $52.05 a barrel by 1206 GMT, while U.S. West Texas …
Read More »Oil Prices Touch Multi-Month Highs as OPEC+ Expected to Cap Output
Oil prices touched multi-month highs on Monday on expectations that OPEC and allied producers may cap output at current levels in February as the coronavirus pandemic keeps worries about first-half demand elevated. Prices rose in line with broader financial markets with Brent crude futures reaching $53.17 a barrel, the highest …
Read More »OPEC Sees Oil Outlook for First Half of 2021 Full of Downside Risks
OPEC sees plenty of downside risks for oil markets in the first half of 2021, its secretary general said on Sunday, a day before meeting allies led by Russia to discuss output levels for February. “Amid the hopeful signs, the outlook for the first half of 2021 is very mixed …
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