Oil falls below US$91 on concerns Federal Reserve’s rate hikes will dampen energy demand
- West Texas Intermediate, the US oil benchmark had jumped 17 per cent last week after Opec+ agreed to cut output by 2 million barrels per day
- Robust labour data in the US has fanned expectations of another 75 basis point rate hike by the Fed next month
Oil eased as risks to energy demand stemming from tighter monetary policy halted a rally triggered by Opec+’s decision to cut supply.
West Texas Intermediate dropped below US$91 a barrel, with China’s markets reopening following a week-long nationwide break. Last week, the US oil benchmark soared 17 per cent after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia agreed on a 2 million barrel-a-day output cut.
Traders are concerned that major central banks including the Federal Reserve will push interest rates deeper into restrictive territory to quell inflation. US data last week showed a still-robust labour market, fanning expectations that the Fed will deliver yet another 75 basis point rate increase next month.
Oil along with other commodities and risk assets including equities remain pressured by the slowdown concerns, with crude giving up all of the gains triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The move by Opec+ to reduce collective output drew a rebuke from the US after President Biden travelled to Riyadh in July to improve relations in a bid for greater flows of oil.
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Oil prices set to rise after Opec+ group agrees to larger-than-expected production cut
“The Opec+ cuts have mostly been digested,” said Vishnu Varathan, Asia head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank. “What’s less visible is the downside stickiness that Opec has introduced by digging its heels in.”
