After three weeks of gains, Brent is trading directionless on Monday. The official Chinese data confirmed that the country’s economy has slowed in 2018 to 6.6%, which was the lowest growth rate in 28 years. But the numbers failed to spook investors as the expectations were even more bearish. In general, the risk sentiment looks subdued which prevents oil prices from further ascent at the start of the trading week.
In January the oil market sentiment has improved and prices have switched to a recovery mode, in many ways due to some progress in the U.S.-China trade relations. Meanwhile, the drilling activity in the U.S. declined dramatically last week, with Baker Hughes reported that the number of active rigs drilling for oil dropped by 21 to 852. It was the third straight weekly decline, which signals the potential stagnation or even decreases in shale oil production in the weeks to come.
In the longer term, there are some other factors that could support the bullish tone in the markets. First, a potential trade deal between the U.S. and China may boost general risk-on trades in general. Second, lets’ not forget about the geopolitical risks in Iraq, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, and Venezuela. Third, the waivers that Washington gave to eight buyers of Iranian oil expire in May, and the U.S. Administration will hardly expend the measures which could result in supply deficit later this year. Against this backdrop, Brent has a chance to recover above $70 from the current levels around $60.