Oil prices claw back previous losses as Iran sanctions return to focus

Reuters  |  SINGAPORE 

By Gloystein

Front-month Brent were at $76.76 a barrel at 0452 GMT, 32 cents, or 0.4 percent, above their last close.

U.S. Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $66.58 a barrel, up 15 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last settlement.

Brent closed down 4.3 percent and WTI dropped 4 percent in the previous session.

Saudi said on Tuesday that despite expected supply disruptions from U.S. sanctions against that kick in from Nov. 4, would step up to "meet any demand that materialises to ensure customers are satisfied".

Despite this, analysts said markets remained tight because of the upcoming sanctions.

"We still see Brent reaching $85 per barrel by year-end," said U.S.

In China, Iran's biggest oil buyer, the of Kunlun is set to stop handling payments from the Islamic Republic next month, appearing to bow to U.S. pressure.

Kunlun is controlled by the financial arm of state-owned National Petroleum Corp and is the main official channel for money flows between and

With financial ties between the two countries effectively severed from November, Chinese will need to find alternatives to Iran's crude.

took in 800,000 barrels per day from Iran in August, the peak for this year, according to Refinitiv Eikon trade data.

While is tightening, the demand outlook for 2019 is darkening because of concerns of a slowing next year.

China's said on Wednesday it would step up financial support for regions most hit by the ongoing trade war between and during which both sides have slapped import tariffs on hundreds of goods.

Meanwhile, South Korea's KOSPI-100 equity index has now fallen by nearly 19 percent over the past year, the fastest rate of decline since the financial crisis of 2008/09.

The KOSPI-100 has typically correlated closely with growth in international trade, given the South Korean economy's strong orientation towards exports.

(Reporting by Gloystein; Editing by and Christian Schmollinger)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, October 24 2018. 10:37 IST