2019-05-21 15:55:00
OIL PRICE: ABOVE $72 ANEW
REUTERS - Oil prices rose on Tuesday on escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and amid expectations that OPEC producers will continue to curb supply this year.
Gains were capped by concerns that a prolonged trade war between Washington and Beijing could lead to a global economic slowdown.
Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at $72.31 per barrel at 1030 GMT, up 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, from their last close.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 42 cents, or 0.7 percent, at $63.52 per barrel.
"Escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, in addition to signs that OPEC will continue its production cut, drove oil higher," said Jasper Lawler, head of research at futures brokerage London Capital Group.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Iran with "great force" if it attacked U.S. interests in the Middle East. This came after a rocket attack in Iraq's capital Baghdad, which Washington suspects to have been organized by militia with ties to Iran.
Iran said on Tuesday that it would resist U.S. pressure, declining further talks under current circumstances.
The tension comes amid an already tight market as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other producers withhold supply to support prices.
Saudi Arabia has signaled its willingness to continue curbing output until the end of the year. OPEC will meet at the end of June or in early July.
Also adding to market tightness was the closure of a major pipeline in Nigeria and supply disruptions from Russia.
Price gains were constrained by pressure on financial markets, which have this week been weighed down by worries that the United States and China are digging in for a long, costly trade war.
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Earlier:
2019, May, 20, 12:00:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $73
Brent crude was up by 90 cents, or 1.3%, at $73.11 a barrel, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 71 cents, or 1.1% higher, at $63.47 a barrel.
2019, May, 17, 08:00:00
OIL PRICE: ABOVE $72
July ICE Brent crude futures were up 35 cents/b (0.48%) from Thursday's settle to $72.97/b, while the NYMEX June light sweet crude contract gained 41 cents/b (0.65%) at $63.28/b.
2019, May, 15, 12:10:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $71
Brent crude futures were at $71.06 a barrel at 0646 GMT, down 18 cents, or 0.3%, from their last close. Brent ended 1.4% higher on Tuesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $61.33 per barrel, down 45 cents, or 0.7%, from their previous settlement. WTI closed up 1.2% in the previous session.
2019, May, 13, 13:10:00
OIL PRICE: ABOVE $71
Brent crude futures were at $71.00 a barrel, up 38 cents, or 0.5%, from their last close by 0624 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $61.73 per barrel, up 7 cents, or 0.1%, from their previous settlement.
2019, May, 8, 12:05:00
OIL PRICE: NOT ABOVE $70 YET
Brent crude oil futures were at $69.94 per barrel, 6 cents, or 0.1 percent, above their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $61.56 per barrel at 0057 GMT on Wednesday, 17 cents, or 0.3 percent, above their last settlement.
2019, May, 8, 11:50:00
OIL PRICES 2019-20: $70 - $67
Brent spot prices will average $70/b in 2019 and $67/b in 2020, compared with an average of $71/b in 2018.
2019, May, 6, 12:15:00
OIL PRICE: NOT ABOVE $70
Brent crude oil futures trading at $69.34 per barrel, down $1.51, or 2.1 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $60.57 per barrel at 0646 GMT on Monday, down $1.37 per barrel, or 2.2 percent, from their last settlement.
