financetom
Business
financetom
/
Business
/
Oil prices ease but remain near 2-week highs on Russia, Iran tensions
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Oil prices ease but remain near 2-week highs on Russia, Iran tensions
Nov 24, 2024 9:26 PM

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Oil prices retreated on Monday following 6% gains last week, but remained near two-week highs as geopolitical tensions grew between Western powers and major oil producers Russia and Iran, raising risks of supply disruption.

Brent crude futures slipped 26 cents, or 0.35%, to $74.91 a barrel by 0440 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $70.97 a barrel, down 27 cents, or 0.38%.

Both contracts last week notched their biggest weekly gains since late September to reach their highest settlement levels since Nov. 7 after Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Ukraine in a warning to the United States and UK 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.

"Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have edged up a notch lately, leading to some pricing for the risks of a wider escalation potentially impacting oil supplies."

As both Ukraine and Russia vie to gain some leverage ahead of any upcoming negotiations under a Trump administration, the tensions may likely persist into the year-end, keeping Brent prices supported around $70-$80, Yeap added.

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 IAEA censure and Iran's response heightens the likelihood that Trump will look to enforce sanctions against Iran's oil exports when he comes into power," Vivek Dhar, a commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in a note.

Enforced sanctions could sideline about 1 million barrels per day of Iran's oil exports, about 1% of global oil supply, he said.

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 concerned not only about damage to oil ports and infrastructure, but also the possibility of war contagion and involvement of more countries," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

Investors were also focused on rising crude oil demand at China and India, the world's top and third-largest importers, respectively.

China's crude imports rebounded in November as lower prices drew stockpiling demand while Indian refiners increased crude throughput by 3% on year to 5.04 million bpd in October, buoyed by fuel exports.

For the week, traders will be eyeing U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) data, due on Wednesday, as that will likely inform the Federal Reserve's policy meeting scheduled for Dec. 17-18, Sachdeva said.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Cannabis Cultivation Solutions Provider Agrify And California's Nature's Miracle Sign Definitive Merger Deal
Cannabis Cultivation Solutions Provider Agrify And California's Nature's Miracle Sign Definitive Merger Deal
May 16, 2024
Vertical farming technology and infrastructure provider Nature’s Miracle Holding Inc. and Agrify Corporation ( AGFY ) announced Thursday that both parties have signed a definitive agreement and merger plan. Under the deal, a new wholly-owned subsidiary of Nature’s Miracle will merge with and into Agrify ( AGFY ), which will survive as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nature’s Miracle. The signing...
Cisco Systems Poised to Beat Market Expectations Amid Conservative Fiscal 2025 Targets, Morgan Stanley Says
Cisco Systems Poised to Beat Market Expectations Amid Conservative Fiscal 2025 Targets, Morgan Stanley Says
May 16, 2024
11:42 AM EDT, 05/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Cisco Systems ( CSCO ) is positioned to beat market expectations as it is anticipated to set more achievable fiscal 2025 targets after its Q3 results topped Street views, Morgan Stanley said in a Thursday note. The company reported fiscal Q3 non-GAAP earnings late Wednesday of $0.88 per diluted share, down from $1.00...
HP to Post 'Strong' Fiscal Q2 Margins, Weak Personal Computer Revenue in Short Term, BofA Says
HP to Post 'Strong' Fiscal Q2 Margins, Weak Personal Computer Revenue in Short Term, BofA Says
May 16, 2024
11:44 AM EDT, 05/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- HP (HPQ) will likely report strong fiscal Q2 margins in the personal system and print divisions driven by its cost management actions, BofA Securities said in an earnings preview Thursday. BofA said it expects revenue of the personal computer division to be weak in the near term with a potential recovery in H2....
Lomiko Metals Up 67% After Reporting Grant From US Department of Defense
Lomiko Metals Up 67% After Reporting Grant From US Department of Defense
May 16, 2024
11:43 AM EDT, 05/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Lomiko Metals ( LMRMF ) shares on Thursday rose 67% on last look after reporting it secured a US$8.35 million ($11.4 million) grant under the US Department of Defense Technology Investment Agreement. Lomiko will match the funding over five years, for a total agreement with the DOD of US$16.7 million. The grant falls...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved