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Oil Prices Fall After Warning From World Bank

October 9, 2012 jrobinson

A strong warning from the World Bank that growth in Asia may slow further dragged the price of oil Monday to its lowest close in two months.

The World Bank signalled the possibility of a “more pronounced slowdown” in China, the world’s second-largest economy after the United States. It also cut its growth forecast for Asia. Red-hot growth in emerging markets like China and India helped boost oil consumption coming out of the global recession.

Benchmark crude fell 55 cents to close at US$89.33 in New York. The contract has not closed lower since August 2.

At the pump, gas prices remain stubbornly high. The national average for gasolene rose 3 cents on the weekend to US$3.818 a gallon. But Californians are now paying an average of US$4.668 a gallon, the highest price in the United States, after a jump of 50 cents in the past week. Some motorists there are paying more than US$5.

In response, Governor Jerry Brown has ordered state smog regulators to allow cheaper winter-blend gas to be sold three weeks early. And Senator Dianne Feinstein has called for a federal investigation because she doesn’t think the higher prices are related to supply and demand.

Experts are predicting prices in California could climb to an average of US$4.85 before coming down.

In London, Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, fell 20 cents to US$111.82.

In other futures in morning trading, natural gas gained less than a penny to reach US$3.40 per 1,000 cubic feet. Heating oil lost a penny to close at US$3.14 per gallon, and wholesale gasolene fell 6 cents to finish at US$2.89 per gallon.

– AP

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Oil Drops On Signs Of Slower Global Growth

October 4, 2012 Webmaster

Oil prices plunged Wednesday on more evidence of slower growth in Asia and concerns about Europe‘s ongoing financial crisis.

Benchmark oil fell $3.43 or 3.7 per cent to $88.46 per barrel in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, which is used to price international varieties of oil, fell $2.59, or 2.3 per cent, to $108.98 a barrel in London.

China‘s services sector slowed in September. Analysts say the index was 53.7 compared with 56.3 in August. It was released just days after a survey indicated that the country’s manufacturing continues to slow.

China is the world’s second largest economy and a huge importer of commodities like oil. Slower growth in that country could cut demand for oil.

And it’s not only China. After years of rapid growth, Asia’s developing economies now face much more modest prospects, the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday in a report that slashes growth forecasts for this year and next.

The ADB said growth in developing Asia, which includes giant emerging economies such as India, China and Indonesia, will slow to 6.1 per cent this year from 7.2 per cent last year and only partly rebound to 6.7 per cent in 2013. It had previously forecast growth of 6.9 per cent for 2012 and 7.3 per cent for 2013.

The disappointing reports were overshadowing signs of improvement in US service companies, which employ nearly 90 per cent of the work force. The Institute for Supply Management says its index rose in September at the fastest pace since March.

Meanwhile, the US government says crude inventories fell slightly last week but remain 8.4 per cent above year-ago levels. Gasoline supplies rose.

In other energy futures trading in New York, natural gas is down 16 cents, or 4.6 per cent, to $3.37 per 1,000 cubic feet, a day after hitting a high for the year.

Heating oil has fallen 5 cents to $3.07 per gallon, and wholesale gasoline has dropped 7 cents, or 2.5 per cent, to $2.80 per gallon.

– AP

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Oil Drops Below US$92

September 25, 2012 jrobinson

Worries about weaker economic growth dragged down oil prices Monday.

Oil has now fallen five of the last six trading days. It fell more than six per cent last week.

Benchmark crude fell 96 cents, or one per cent, to finish at US$91.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices for other petroleum products dropped, too.

In London, Brent crude dropped US$1.61 at US$109.81 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Germany delivered the latest dose of gloomy economic news, with its index of business confidence falling for the fifth month in a row. Germany is an economic powerhouse, but 43 per cent of its exports go to its euro partners. And growth is stalling across the other 16 countries in the Eurozone.

Slower economies mean less demand for oil, pushing prices down.

Phil Flynn, a senior market analyst for Price Futures Group, said he’s surprised prices haven’t fallen further. He said one reason could be that commodity funds have not been bailing out of oil.

demand destruction

Still, oil prices have been under pressure from worries about Europe. The dollar has been stronger, which makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies.

“You’re seeing demand destruction around the globe,” he said. “You’ve got Saudi Arabia saying they’re going to pump oil until the cows come home.” All of that drives down oil prices, he said.

Heating oil dropped 2.2 cents to US$3.0987 per gallon, wholesale gasolene decreased 2.49 cents to US$2.9176 per gallon and natural gas ended down 4.8 cents to US$2.837 per 1,000 cubic feet.

– AP

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News Oil

Oil Drops Below US$92

September 25, 2012 Webmaster

Worries about weaker economic growth dragged down oil prices Monday.

Oil has now fallen five of the last six trading days. It fell more than six per cent last week.

Benchmark crude fell 96 cents, or one per cent, to finish at US$91.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices for other petroleum products dropped, too.

In London, Brent crude dropped US$1.61 at US$109.81 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Germany delivered the latest dose of gloomy economic news, with its index of business confidence falling for the fifth month in a row. Germany is an economic powerhouse, but 43 per cent of its exports go to its euro partners. And growth is stalling across the other 16 countries in the Eurozone.

Slower economies mean less demand for oil, pushing prices down.

Phil Flynn, a senior market analyst for Price Futures Group, said he’s surprised prices haven’t fallen further. He said one reason could be that commodity funds have not been bailing out of oil.

demand destruction

Still, oil prices have been under pressure from worries about Europe. The dollar has been stronger, which makes oil cheaper for holders of other currencies.

“You’re seeing demand destruction around the globe,” he said. “You’ve got Saudi Arabia saying they’re going to pump oil until the cows come home.” All of that drives down oil prices, he said.

Heating oil dropped 2.2 cents to US$3.0987 per gallon, wholesale gasolene decreased 2.49 cents to US$2.9176 per gallon and natural gas ended down 4.8 cents to US$2.837 per 1,000 cubic feet.

– AP

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JPS News Oil

Oil’s Slide Continues, Hits 6-Week Low Below $92

September 20, 2012 jrobinson

Oil prices fell on Wednesday for the third day in a row as traders realised that a recent run-up to $100 may have been overdone.

Oil ended at $91.98 on Wednesday, dropping $3.31, or 3.5 per cent. That was its lowest close since August 3. Oil has fallen 7 per cent this week.

Several things have been pushing prices down. Analysts said traders are taking profits after oil got above $100 per barrel on Friday for the first time since May. And there have more signs this week that the global economy is slowing down, which tends to push oil prices lower because people and businesses use less energy.

Also, crude inventories rose three times more than analysts had expected last week. Crude supplies grew by 8.5 million barrels to 367.6 million barrels. That’s 8.4 per cent higher than at the same time last year, according to the Energy Information Administration‘s weekly report.

Analysts expected a rise of 2.5 million barrels, according to Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

There were also reports that Saudi Arabia is keeping production high to drive oil prices lower.

Oil’s decline came despite some news that might have pushed prices higher. The Bank of Japan said on Wednesday that it would buy more government bonds, which is intended to boost Japan’s economy. And ongoing tensions in the Middle East have tended to drive prices higher.

“Yet we continue to fall,” said Addison Armstrong, senior director for market research at Tradition Energy. “I think that has accelerated some profit-taking. After all, crude did have a pretty good run from $86 up to $100.”

Brent crude traded on the ICE Futures exchange in London fell $3.84, or 3.4 per cent, to $108.19 per barrel.

Traders were also keeping their eyes on oil supplies as US Gulf Coast refineries returned to production after shutting down due to Hurricane Isaac.

“We’re getting back a few more refineries post (Hurricane Isaac), but on the flip side a few refineries had some restart issues and a few are headed into maintenance,” said Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks and Opinions in a newsletter.

Regular gasolene at the pump fell a half a penny to an average of $3.854 per gallon.

– AP

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JPS News Oil

Oil’s Slide Continues, Hits 6-Week Low Below $92

September 20, 2012 Webmaster