Oil rises on signs low prices crimping U.S. output though economic worries weigh

Reuters  |  SEOUL 

By Jane Chung

International benchmark Brent crude futures rose 60 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $54.42 a barrel at 0408 GMT. Prices climbed to as high as $54.66.

U.S. Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 37 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $45.96 a barrel after earlier climbing to as high as $46.24.

Crude prices rebounded from a sharp declines last week. Brent fell 11 percent for the week, dropping to its lowest since September 2017 on Friday, while WTI also dropped 11 percent last week, its worst weekly performance since January 2016.

Both benchmarks down more than 35 percent from their recent peaks in early October.

The price plunge has caused U.S. shale producers to curtail drilling plans for next year.

The boom in U.S. shale output has boosted the country into the top spot over traditional suppliers and The industry is at the S. Donald Trump's calls to boost the country's independence.

"In the short term, it doesn't seem would drop further because WTI has broken the $50 resistance level and U.S. Trump would not want to see WTI falling further to support U.S. shale industry," said Kim Kwang-rae, a at in Seoul.

Still, the macroeconomic picture and its impact on continue to pressure prices. Global equity markets have plunged amid concerns of slowing trade flows, especially with the trade war between the U.S. and China, the world's two biggest economies.

Equity markets in were moderately higher on Monday, though trading was limited because of the holiday on Dec. 25.

Furthermore, even with the signs of slowing U.S. supply, global production remains in excess of demand.

The (OPEC) and agreed earlier this month to cut by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) starting in January to address the supply issues.

Should they not be enough to balance the market, OPEC and its allies will hold an extraordinary meeting, the United Arab Emirate's minister said on Sunday.

"Oil ministers are already taking to the airwaves with a 'price stability at all cost' mantra," said Stephen Innes, at in

Mazrouei said a joint OPEC and non-OPEC monitoring committee would meet in in late February or early March.

Adding to concerns about oversupply, the number of active U.S. rigs for drilling oil rose by 10 in the week ended Dec. 21 to 883, according to a report by General Electric Co's services firm.

(Reporting By Jane Chung; 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: Mon, December 24 2018. 12:49 IST