Oil prices rose for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as markets clung to potential production cut by U.S. producers. However, increase in prices were smaller compared to the crash on Monday after Saudi Arabia started a price war with Russia.
West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.3%, or $1.12, at $35.48 per barrel, while Brent crude futures gained 3.9%, or $1.44, at $38.66 per barrel.
Occidental Petroleum joined other oil producers in North America in cutting spending and drilling after prices suffered deepest falls in over three years.
Oil and equity markets recovered on Tuesday after recent days’ slump, lifted by rumors of coordinated policy stimulus by central banks and governments globally to soften the blow of the epidemic.
But doubts on Washington’s implementation of a stimulus package to combat the effects of the virus caused Asian shares to cut its rally short.
Saudi Arabia stated that it would raise oil production to record highs by April, intensifying a price war with Moscow, which had suggested to go through additional talks on supply levels.
The price war between the two major oil producers sent crude prices to a drawback by 25%.
Alexander Novak, Russia’s oil minister said that he did not close out coordinated measures with OPEC to steady the market. However, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said that an OPEC+ meeting was not necessary if the parties did not agree to particular measures in combating the virus’ impact on oil prices and demand.
Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil inventories gained in the recent week, while gasoline and distillate stocks fell.
On Friday, Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) announced a lower second-quarter profit because of the recession caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The decline was due to lower sales volume and changes in dealer inventories. During the second quarter ...
Oil traded higher on Friday, further reclaiming lost ground from three-week lows in the previous session as the COVID-19 situation continued to dent the global economy as well as oil consumption. Brent crude gained 0.3%, trading at $43.08 ...
June had seen Japan’s industrial output breaking its four-month slump. The recuperation could be attributed to a modest recovery seen in broader business and consumer activity after the world’s third-biggest economy suffered from ...
On Thursday, the United States’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) suffered the biggest economic decline in the second quarter as the surge of coronavirus cases affected the whole country. The U.S. government decided to shut down restaurants, ...
Oil prices fell on Thursday as the rising global coronavirus cases weighed on fuel demand recovery just as OPEC+ producers are set to increase supply. The Brent contract for October slid 0.05%, or 2 cents, at $44.07 per barrel, while the September ...