Crude Oil Prices Spike Ahead of OPEC+ Meeting
Crude oil prices rise on Wednesday ahead of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) meeting scheduled for April 1, 2021.
Crude oil investors hope that major oil producers of OPEC+ will keep production levels unchanged for May despite estimates of a build in US inventories.
International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $64.52 per barrel, rising 0.54% increase after closing Tuesday at $64.17 a barrel.
American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $60.89 per barrel at the same time for a 0.56% rise after it ended the previous session at $60.55 a barrel.
The upward movement in oil prices was mainly driven by optimism that OPEC and non-OPEC countries, known as OPEC+, would maintain the current production quotas in line with the market expectation.
At the scheduled meeting, the oil producing group will likely maintain status quo on supply cuts or ease them further after April.
Confirming expectations, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo emphasized “the need to remain very cautious and attentive to changing market conditions” during Tuesday’s Joint Technical Committee (JTC).
Barkindo warned that while last month saw many positive developments, it also witnessed reminders of the ongoing uncertainties and fragility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
OPEC and non-OPEC producers are currently cutting 7.9 million barrels per day (bpd) under the existing deal, with Saudi Arabia making an additional voluntary reduction of 1 million bpd. The price hike came despite an estimated rise in US crude oil inventories.
Recalled the American Petroleum Institute (API) announced its estimate of a rise of over 3.9 million barrels in US crude oil inventories relative to the market expectation of a 400,000-barrel increase.
If crude stocks increase in line with the API’s expectations, it signals that crude demand is falling in the US, the world’s largest oil consumer, to negatively affect oil prices.
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In the global market, demand has not really picked up due to uncertainties around covid-19 vaccines, Europe lockdown and tepid global economic performance.
Oil analysts however said the rollover of the current production levels for at least two months will be most supportive of price stability.
Crude Oil Prices Spike ahead of OPEC+ Meeting
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source https://dmarketforces.com/crude-oil-prices-spike-ahead-of-opec-meeting/