Oil prices rose on Wednesday, driven by tighter supply from OPEC members and Russia, alongside stronger-than-expected U.S. job data indicating economic growth and higher oil demand.
Oil prices climbed on Wednesday, fueled by tighter supplies from Russia and OPEC members, alongside data showing an unexpected rise in U.S. job openings, signaling economic growth and increased demand for oil.
Brent crude rose by 32 cents, or 0.42%, to $77.37 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 42 cents, or 0.57%, reaching $74.67.
A Reuters survey revealed that OPEC's oil output fell in December, reversing the increases seen in the previous two months. Maintenance work in the United Arab Emirates offset production gains in Nigeria and other OPEC countries.
Meanwhile, Russian oil output averaged 8.971 million barrels per day in December, falling short of the country's production target, according to Bloomberg.
On the economic front, U.S. job openings increased unexpectedly in November, and layoffs remained low. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) indicated that workers were also less willing to quit their jobs, a sign of labor market stability. Capital Economics noted that the data, combined with recent employment reports, pointed to a labor market approaching pre-pandemic levels.
In addition, U.S. crude oil stocks fell last week, while fuel inventories increased, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute.
Looking ahead, analysts predict that oil prices will average lower in 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to rising production from non-OPEC countries. BMI, a division of Fitch Group, forecasts Brent crude to average $76 per barrel in 2025, down from $80 per barrel in 2024. Their bearish outlook is driven by expectations of oversupply, with production growth surpassing demand growth by 485,000 barrels per day.
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The Israeli military has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran, it said late on Monday. The strikes came after it issued an evacuation warning for residents in Tehran, particularly those residing near state broadcaster IRIB's headquarters.
The U.S. will take action to mitigate rising energy prices due to a spike in the price of oil caused by the Iran conflict, Secretary of State Rubio said on Monday.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Kazakhstan lost around 3.8 million tonnes of oil exports following an attack on facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said, stressing that it is still too early to assess the losses in monetary terms.
Follow the latest developments and global reaction after the U.S. and Israel launched “major combat operations” in Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has moved into a pivotal constitutional role following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, becoming the clerical member of Iran’s temporary leadership council under Article 111 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton told lawmakers that President Donald Trump told him he had "some great times" with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before their relationship soured, according to a video released on Monday (2 March).
The U.S.-Iran crisis has entered its third day, with further strikes reported across the Middle East and the death toll rising. Oil prices have surged to levels last seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, raising fears of economic disruption and higher prices worldwide.
The UK said it's allowing the U.S. to use its bases for defensive strikes against Iran amid escalating missile attacks, after a suspected drone strike hit a British airbase in southern Cyprus, causing limited damage.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
European Union stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain's Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in southern Cyprus overnight.
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