Nov 25 (Reuters) - Oil prices steadied on Monday following 6% gains last week, with mounting tensions between Western powers and major oil producers Russia and Iran raising fears of supply disruptions and keeping a floor under prices.
Brent crude futures fell 0.34%, or 26 cents, to $74.91 a barrel by 0931 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $70.89 a barrel, down 35 cents, or 0.49%.
Both contracts last week notched their biggest weekly gains since late September after Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Ukraine in a warning to the United States and Britain following strikes by Kyiv on Russia using U.S. and British weapons.
"Oil prices are starting the new week with some slight cool-off as market participants await more cues from geopolitical developments and the Fed's policy outlook to set the tone," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.
In addition, Iran reacted to a resolution passed by the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Thursday by ordering measures such as activating various new and advanced centrifuges used in enriching uranium.
"The likelihood for removal of some Iranian supplies has increased following the censure of Iran over its nuclear programme and the regime's agreement to hold talks suggests that the U.S. will enforce sanctions – this could remove around 1mmbopd of supply," said Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty.
The Iranian foreign ministry said on Sunday that it will hold talks about its disputed nuclear programme with three European powers on Nov. 29.
Markets are also expected to move this week ahead of the OPEC+ meeting on Dec.1, where the group may stick with deep oil cuts for longer due to weak demand.
"The OPEC+ summit on December 1, will further postpone the start of the planned production increases until February. Pushing back the start until Q2 or later is another possibility that would add even more support," said Tim Evans, an independent energy analyst.
Investors were also focused on rising crude oil demand in China.
China's crude imports rebounded in November as lower prices drew stockpiling demand. Chinese crude imports are likely to be further lifted by an additional import quota of at least 5.84 million metric tons (116,800 bpd) issued to independent refiners for cargoes arriving into next year, people familiar with the situation said on Monday.
At least 12 people including an alleged shooter were killed in a shooting incident on Australia's Bondi Beach on Sunday according to Police....
Farmers in France staged protests on Saturday (13 December) over the culling of cattle linked to an outbreak of nodular dermatitis, commonly known as ...
Police in Berlin dispersed a protest on Saturday evening after around one thousand demonstrators gathered against alleged police violence....
Street clashes broke out for a second night in the Tunisian city of Kairouan after a man died following a police pursuit, raising fears of wider unres...
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says international cooperation is essential for Syria’s recovery as investment slowly begins to return despite ...
Kazakhstan has begun redirecting part of its crude exports, sending oil from Kashagan to China as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) operates at reduced capacity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday (4 December) to begin a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to India in four years.
Venezuela has accused the U.S. of attempting to seize the country’s vast oil reserves through military force, in a move the government says could destabilise the global energy market.
OPEC+ is expected to maintain its current oil production levels at meetings scheduled for Sunday, as the alliance weighs the risks of an emerging supply glut against ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, four OPEC+ sources told reporters this week.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
Russian forces struck Ukraine’s southern port city of Odesa for a second consecutive day on Saturday (13 December), deploying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time in the conflict, Ukrainian authorities said.
At least 12 people including an alleged shooter were killed in a shooting incident on Australia's Bondi Beach on Sunday according to Police.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50% to 3.75% following its two-day policy meeting, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December.
China has carried out a major test of a new “super wireless” rail convoy, a technology that could reshape the future of heavy-haul transport.
Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) has launched a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O). The escalation follows a high-stakes battle that had appeared to end last week when Netflix secured a $72 billion deal for the studio giant’s assets.
U.S. industrial production rose by 0.1% in September, rebounding after a decline in August, while capacity utilisation remained unchanged, according to Federal Reserve data on Wednesday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment