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Oil Rises With Growing Reopening Efforts Offsetting Virus Surge

Oil rose toward $67 a barrel as weaker demand from virus-ravaged India partially offset optimism over the global economic recovery

Oil Rises With Growing Reopening Efforts Offsetting Virus Surge
A worker collects a sample of crude oil for quality control purposes at a testing facility. (Photographer: Oliver Bunic/Bloomberg)

Oil climbed as optimism over progress in reopening some of the world’s largest economies outweighed deepening coronavirus risks elsewhere.

Futures rose 1.4% in New York after flipping between gains and losses earlier Monday. A European Union plan to ease restrictions for vaccinated travelers over the summer travel season is boosting sentiment. In the U.S., most capacity restrictions will be lifted in states around the New York region starting later this month. The U.S. dollar also weakened, making commodities priced in the currency more attractive.

“We’ve likely put the worst of Europe behind us,” and “as they turn toward reopening, that will help,” said Rob Haworth, senior investment strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. While the recovery in other regions catches up, oil price upside in the near term “hinges on the U.S. reopening story and the return of U.S. demand.”

Oil Rises With Growing Reopening Efforts Offsetting Virus Surge

U.S. benchmark crude futures have rallied more than 30% this year, but the market continues to face an uneven global demand recovery as some countries suffer from new waves of coronavirus cases. Sales of gasoline in India were the lowest in April since August, while average daily diesel sales were the lowest since October, preliminary data from officials with direct knowledge of the matter show.

“Developed markets are experiencing an economic and petroleum demand recovery and global oil inventories have largely normalized,” Bank of America Global Research analysts including Francisco Blanch wrote in a weekly report. But “a full oil demand recovery will also require a healthy economic backdrop in emerging markets.”

Iraq’s oil minister, Ihsan Abdul Jabbar, said crude would probably remain around $65 in the coming months. OPEC, of which Iraq is the second-biggest producer, will continue trying to keep prices “within normal averages,” he told reporters in Baghdad on Monday. “There is no concern about a drop in prices.”

Prices
  • West Texas Intermediate for June delivery gained 91 cents to settle at $64.49 a barrel in New York
  • Brent for July settlement rose 80 cents to $67.56 a barrel

In options markets, there are signs that traders may be looking to cover in the case global benchmark Brent futures surge in the back half of the year. Bullish call options that would benefit a buyer if Brent futures for December settlement top $100 a barrel have traded over 10,000 times over the past two days.

Commodities have been caught up in the ongoing reflation trade, as signs of solid economic growth in countries such as the U.S. compound expectations for accelerating inflation. Over the weekend, Warren Buffett said the U.S. economy is “red hot” and that there is more inflation “than people would have anticipated six months ago.”

“Buffett sees strong inflationary pressures at the moment and that oil and gas are going to be needed for many years and even decades, despite the push for zero-carbon economies,” which supports “the big revival in commodity index investing.” said Ryan Fitzmaurice, commodities strategist at Rabobank.

Traders are also tracking talks between the Iran and world powers including the U.S. over the revival of a nuclear accord. A deal would potentially lead to Washington easing sanctions on Iranian crude exports, though U.S. officials said a deal isn’t close yet. The Islamic Republic has presidential elections next month, which may complicate the talks.

Related coverage:
  • Iraq announced it’s considering buying Exxon Mobil Corp.’s stake in one of the world’s biggest fields.
  • Abu Dhabi has for the first time set the price for its Murban grade based on futures trading in the Middle Eastern petrostate.
  • Russia increased its oil production in April thanks to a more generous OPEC+ quota.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.