✂ Fed’s first rate cut since 2020: Use our free Stock Screener to find new opportunities fastExplore for FREE

UPDATE 6-Oil edges up; strong dollar, OPEC doubts make buyers cautious

Published 07/01/2017, 07:38 am
© Reuters.  UPDATE 6-Oil edges up; strong dollar, OPEC doubts make buyers cautious
LCO
-
CL
-
DXY
-

* Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi both cutting supplies

* Analysts doubt all OPEC producers will implement cuts

* Dollar turns higher after U.S. jobs data

* U.S drillers add oil rigs for 10th week in a row -Baker Hughes (Adds settlement prices, weekly milestones, Capital Economics comment)

By Devika Krishna Kumar

NEW YORK, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Oil rose slightly on Friday on futures buying, ending the week higher, but gains were limited by a strong U.S. dollar and lingering doubts about whether OPEC producers would stick to a deal to cut output.

Market players attributed choppy trading to position-squaring at the end of the week and low volumes at the start of the year.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 settled 21 cents higher at $57.10 per barrel, after trading in a range of $56.28 to $57.47. The contract posted gains for the second week in a row.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 ended the session up 23 cents at $53.99 a barrel, after swinging between $53.32 and $54.32. WTI notched its third straight weekly gain.

"There's a lot of volatility, or at least changes in direction," ABN Amro senior energy economist Hans van Cleef said. "People think the long-term trend is up, but after a gain of a few dollars, they take profit."

The dollar .DXY gained broadly after the U.S. non-farm payrolls report showed slower hiring in December but an increase in wages, feeding expectations of further interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve this year. stronger greenback makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Top crude exporter Saudi Arabia and fellow Gulf members Abu Dhabi and Kuwait showed signs they were cutting production in line with an agreement by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers, yet market watchers have doubts about overall compliance. signs that producers are reneging on their commitments could cause sentiment to sour and cause prices to fall back sharply, Capital Economics said in a note.

U.S. energy companies this week added oil rigs for a 10th week in a row, bringing the total count up to 529, the most since December 2015, energy services firm Baker Hughes Inc BHI.N said on Friday. RIGU/

"Market balances are unquestionably tightening, but concerns pertaining to the pace at which the global storage glut will be drawn down toward historically normal levels will be the focal point for the year ahead," said Michael Tran, director of energy strategy at RBC Capital Markets in New York.

"While the market has centered its attention on the notional size of the announced cuts from both OPEC and non-OPEC countries and whether or not the group will deliver on its promises, we believe that an important factor is being overlooked ... the deal inadvertently tightens the medium and heavy balances incrementally more than the light, sweet market."

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CHART-Brent technicals

http://reut.rs/2hYgZmx CHART-WTI technicals

http://reut.rs/2ihmwCk

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

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.