Citi forecasts a recovery in oil prices
This comes despite the recent failure of the world's largest oil-producing countries to strike a deal to freeze output.
Oil prices may be tanking in the wake of a failed attempt to freeze production, but Citi is betting on a recovery in prices.
Citi is forecasting declining supply from some producers, such as Venezuela and Nigeria, while inventories may finally see some drawdowns.
The bank now expects Brent and WTI prices at US$39 and US$38 a barrel respectively in the second quarter, up from forecasts of US$31 for each. For the third quarter, Citi now forecasts Brent at US$46 a barrel and WTI at US$45, up from its previous forecasts of US$41 and US$40, respectively. For the fourth quarter, it held its forecasts steady at US$52 a barrel for Brent and US$50 for WTI.
That's despite the failure of a summit in Doha between the world's largest oil-producing countries to reach a deal on Sunday to freeze output in an effort to boost crude prices which have tumbled from levels well over US$100 a barrel in mid-2014 amid a global supply glut.
The conference's failure sent U.S. crude futures down 5.6 per cent to US$38.10 a barrel in early Asian trade, while global benchmark Brent futures fell 5.66 per cent to US$40.66.
Even without an output freeze, Citi expects the supply glut may ease.