Thursday, 15 November 2018

Crude oil tumbles on surging supplies and darkening demand outlook



In November so far, WTI oil has slumped 18%. Surging supply and expectations of faltering demand have pressured crude prices. OPEC said recently in a monthly report that global oil demand in 2019 would rise by 1.29 million barrels a day, 70,000 b/d less than predicted last month and the fourth consecutive reduction in its forecast.

Worried by the drop in oil prices and rising supplies, OPEC is talking again of reducing production just months after having increased it. Such a shift would anger U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged OPEC not to cut production.

Oil’s slide that has taken it into a bear market has been exacerbated by a U.S. decision to grant some nations waivers from its sanctions, allowing them to continue buying some Iranian crude. Meanwhile, rising American output and inventories are pointing to an emerging glut and speculation is swirling over whether OPEC and its allies, including Russia, will act to stem the price slump.

The group reported the worsening outlook as traders assess mixed signals regarding its next step. Following a closely watched meeting of OPEC and its allies in Abu Dhabi over the weekend that yielded no formal change in production policy, a producer committee warned that they may need ?new strategies.?

Top group member Saudi Arabia said output needs to be curbed by about 1 million b/d from October levels. Still, OPEC secondary-source data suggest the kingdom fully abandoned cuts for the first time in October.

Meanwhile, another key producer, Russia, signalled it?s not ready to act immediately, with Energy Minister Alexander Novak highlighting the need to wait and see how the market develops.

Hence, prices have tanked in the last few days. The momentum from now on looks weak, but, as prices have contracted nearly 27% from recent highs, the possibility of a technical bounce-back is not ruled out. MCX crude oil is likely to bounce up in short term. Hence, we recommend remaining cautiously positive.

The author is Head - Commodity Research & Advisory, Anand Rathi Commodities.

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Source: Moneycontrol

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