(Bloomberg) — Oil headed for a second weekly loss amid growing concern the global energy demand recovery has stalled, although figures showing OPEC’s crude output held steady last month eased fears of a potential glut.Futures in New York fell toward $38 a barrel Friday after slumping 3.7% on Thursday. The chance of any more U.S. fiscal stimulus before the November election appeared to be fading after talks yielded no immediate breakthrough. The coronavirus is resurgent in Europe and hasn’t been brought under control in big economies such as India, leading to a chorus of forecasters scaling back their estimates for when oil demand will get back to pre-virus levels.Still, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ crude production was almost unchanged last month from August, according to a Bloomberg survey. The United Arab Emirates cut its oil output to the lowest in two years, offsetting increased Saudi Arabian exports as well as added output from Venezuela, Libya and Iran. Iraq also said it remains committed to the OPEC+ cuts, including extra curbs to compensate for previous overproduction.Oil prices are heading for their fourth weekly loss in five amid signs demand has stabilized well below pre-virus levels as the pandemic proves stubbornly persistent. Chinese buying has flagged in recent months after a spree earlier in the year and there’s still a big overhang of inventories worldwide, while refiners are struggling with growing gluts of diesel and jet fuel.“We expect global oil demand to plateau in the fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2021 before effective vaccines prompt further growth,” said Victor Shum, vice president of energy consulting at IHS Markit. Dated Brent should hold just above $40 a barrel through the rest of the year, although there still could be price volatility, he said.The prompt spreads for both WTI and Brent have fallen a bit further into contango –where near-dated prices are cheaper than later-dated ones — this week, suggesting concern about over-supply is increasing.OPEC production averaged 24.43 million barrels a day in September, according to the Bloomberg survey, compared with 24.39 million in August. Output was as high as 30.44 million in April as producers opened the taps amid the price war.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.,
(Bloomberg) — Oil headed for a second weekly loss amid growing concern the global energy demand recovery has stalled, although figures showing OPEC’s crude output held steady last month eased fears of a potential glut.Futures in New York fell toward $38 a barrel Friday after slumping 3.7% on Thursday. The chance of any more U.S. fiscal stimulus before the November election appeared to be fading after talks yielded no immediate breakthrough. The coronavirus is resurgent in Europe and hasn’t been brought under control in big economies such as India, leading to a chorus of forecasters scaling back their estimates for when oil demand will get back to pre-virus levels.Still, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ crude production was almost unchanged last month from August, according to a Bloomberg survey. The United Arab Emirates cut its oil output to the lowest in two years, offsetting increased Saudi Arabian exports as well as added output from Venezuela, Libya and Iran. Iraq also said it remains committed to the OPEC+ cuts, including extra curbs to compensate for previous overproduction.Oil prices are heading for their fourth weekly loss in five amid signs demand has stabilized well below pre-virus levels as the pandemic proves stubbornly persistent. Chinese buying has flagged in recent months after a spree earlier in the year and there’s still a big overhang of inventories worldwide, while refiners are struggling with growing gluts of diesel and jet fuel.“We expect global oil demand to plateau in the fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2021 before effective vaccines prompt further growth,” said Victor Shum, vice president of energy consulting at IHS Markit. Dated Brent should hold just above $40 a barrel through the rest of the year, although there still could be price volatility, he said.The prompt spreads for both WTI and Brent have fallen a bit further into contango –where near-dated prices are cheaper than later-dated ones — this week, suggesting concern about over-supply is increasing.OPEC production averaged 24.43 million barrels a day in September, according to the Bloomberg survey, compared with 24.39 million in August. Output was as high as 30.44 million in April as producers opened the taps amid the price war.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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