2020-01-31 12:35:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $59
REUTERS - Oil prices rose on Friday following sharp losses this week, as the World Health Organization (WHO) came out against travel and trade restrictions in declaring a global emergency over the spread of a coronavirus that originated in China last year.
Oil prices fell nearly 4% through Thursday this week - hitting three-months lows - before rebounding on Friday, with investors and traders worried over how spread of the virus would impact demand for oil and its products.
"WHO's decision ... to oppose restricting travel and trades against China boosted market confidence, even though the organization declared a global health emergency," said Margaret Yang, market analyst at CMC Markets.
Brent crude futures LCOc1 were 68 cents higher at $58.97 a barrel by 0738 GMT, after falling 2.5% in the previous session. Brent is still down 2.8% for the week.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures CLc1 were up by 70 cents to $52.84 a barrel. The contract fell 2.2% on Thursday and is now 2.5% lower for the week.
Both benchmarks rose by more than $1 earlier in the session.
The WHO on Thursday declared that the coronavirus outbreak in China - which has killed more than 200 people there and has spread to some 18 countries - now constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization "doesn't recommend - and actually opposes" restrictions on travel or trade with China.
Despite the rebound in prices on Friday, analysts remained cautious and warned of further downside risks if the virus continues to spread.
"Oil's January correction, a 13% drop to be exact, was ripe for a bounce," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA in New York.
"Oil is likely to remain vulnerable despite today's optimism that the coronavirus has likely been contained," he said.
Italy's government decided to halt all air traffic between Italy and China, and airlines including Air France, American Airlines and British Airways have stopped flying to Chinese cities.
"An escalation in alert levels around the world will likely curb demand travel and thus energy," said CMC's Yang.
Mostly due to a drop in Chinese domestic and international transport activity, Wood Mackenzie lowered its estimates for world oil demand by 500,000 barrels per day for the first quarter of 2020, according to consultant Yujiao Lei.
Benchmark oil prices were also buoyed by reports that Saudi Arabia has opened a discussion about moving an upcoming output policy meeting to early February from March following the recent slide in oil prices.
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Earlier:
2020, January, 29, 13:30:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $60
Brent rose 66 cents, or 1.1%, to $60.17 a barrel. U.S. WTI was up 62 cents, or 1.2%, at $54.10 a barrel.
2020, January, 27, 15:00:00
OIL PRICE:NEAR $59
Brent fell by $1.79 a barrel, or 2.95%, to $58.90, WTI was down by $1.63, or 3%, at $52.55.
2020, January, 24, 13:45:00
OIL PRICE:NEAR $62
Brent were up 31 cents, or 0.5%, at $62.35 a barrel, WTI were up 27 cents, or 0.5% higher at $55.86 a barrel.
2020, January, 22, 12:55:00
OIL PRICE:NEAR $64
Brent was down 30 cents, or 0.5%, at $64.29 a barrel, WTI fell 33 cents, or 0.6%, to $58.05 a barrel
2020, January, 20, 12:20:00
OIL PRICE: NOT ABOVE $66
Brent were up by 70 cents, or 1.11%, to $65.55, WTI was up by 56 cents, or 1%, at $59.10 a barrel, after rising to $59.73, the highest since Jan. 10.
2020, January, 20, 12:05:00
OPEC'S OIL PRODUCTION DOWN 2 MBD
Recent statistics issued by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, highlighted a decrease in its production by 6.3 percent or some 2 million barrels per day in 2019, compared to 2018.
2020, January, 15, 12:50:00
OIL PRICES 2020-21: $65-$68
Brent crude oil spot prices will average $65 per barrel (b) in 2020 and $68/b in 2021, compared with an average of $64/b in 2019. EIA expects West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices will average about $5.50/b lower than Brent prices through 2020 and 2021, compared with an average WTI discount of about $7.35/b in 2019.
