🎁 💸 Warren Buffett's Top Picks Are Up +49.1%. Copy Them to Your Watchlist – For FreeCopy Portfolio

Oil prices bounce as OPEC promises a cut is on the cards

Published 11/07/2016, 05:14 AM
© Reuters. An oil well pump jack is seen at an oil field supply yard near Denver
BARC
-
LCO
-
CL
-

By Libby George

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose more than 1 percent on Monday, boosted by a commitment from OPEC to stick to a deal to cut output, but prices remained more than $7 below last month's high due to persistent doubts over the feasibility of the group's plan.

Brent crude (LCOc1) traded at $46.20 per barrel at 0933 GMT, up 62 cents, or 1.36 percent, from the previous close.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude (CLc1) was up 75 cents, or 1.7 percent, at $44.82 a barrel.

The secretary-general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said the group was committed to an output-cutting deal made in Algiers in September.

"We as OPEC, we remain committed to the Algiers accord that we ... put together. All OPEC 14 (members), we remain committed to the implementation," Mohammed Barkindo told reporters at a conference in Abu Dhabi.

Despite this, many analysts doubt OPEC's ability to coordinate a cut sufficient to balance the market.

"Market belief that OPEC can reach a credible deal has collapsed and prices are now $8 a barrel off the post-Algiers highs," David Hufton, managing director of PVM Oil Associates, said in a note.

He cited record OPEC production in October, infighting between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as calls from Iraq for its own exemption from any cut.

"The numbers show that the best deal OPEC are likely to come up with is well short of what is needed to achieve a balanced market in 2017," Hufton said.

Oil futures posted their biggest weekly percentage decline since January last week with Brent falling as low as $45.08, its weakest since Aug. 11, and WTI hitting $43.57, its lowest since Sept. 20.

There are also risks that the oil glut, which has dogged markets for over two years, could continue as OPEC's de-facto leader Saudi Arabia threatened to increase production.

Even if Saudi Arabia does not follow through on that threat, its exports could rise.

"Saudi local oil demand is falling, and just maintaining current output could imply higher exports," Barclays (LON:BARC) bank said.

© Reuters. An oil well pump jack is seen at an oil field supply yard near Denver

There were also signs of rising future U.S. output as the number of drilling rigs looking for new oil rose by nine to 450 in the week to Nov. 4, the highest level since February.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.