2020-08-24 12:45:00
OIL PRICE: BELOW $45
REUTERS - AUGUST 24, 2020 - Crude oil prices rose on Monday as storms closed in on the Gulf of Mexico, shutting more than half its oil production, and on signs of progress in development of a COVID-19 treatment.
Brent crude LCOc1 was up 32 cents, or 0.7%, at $44.67 a barrel by 0753 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose 31 cents, or 0.7%, to $42.65.
"Prices are taking their cues from Mother Nature this morning as two storms bear down on the Gulf of Mexico. Half of the region's production has been shut down, though gains will be limited by the threat of a second prolonged COVID wave," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM.
Energy companies shut more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of offshore crude oil production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico because of the twin threat from Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura. Workers have been evacuated from more than 100 production platforms.
"While there is a focus on oil production at the moment, we will need to keep an eye on refining activity, which is vulnerable to flooding. The U.S. Gulf is a key refining hub," said Warren Patterson, ING's head of commodities strategy.
Also supporting prices was a report by the Financial Times that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering fast-tracking an experimental COVID-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and Oxford University.
On Sunday Trump also hailed FDA authorization of a coronavirus treatment that uses blood plasma from recovered patients, a day after he accused the agency of impeding the rollout of vaccines and therapeutics for political reasons.
Oil price gains were kept in check, however, by an increase in the U.S. oil and natural rig count for the first time since March, with the addition of the most oil rigs in seven months as shale producers resume drilling.
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Earlier:
2020, August, 21, 11:35:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $45 THOUGH
Brent were up 5 cents, or 0.1%, at $44.95 per barrel, WTI were unchanged at $42.82 per barrel
2020, August, 21, 11:25:00
OPEC+ : FRAGILE MARKET
OPEC+ underscored the fragility of the market and significant uncertainties, particularly associated with oil demand, and called for vigilance by all participating countries.
2020, August, 21, 11:20:00
SAUDI'S OIL PRODUCTION DOWN
Saudi Arabia pumped 7.484 million b/d in June, the lowest since December 2002, and down from 8.486 million b/d in May.
2020, August, 20, 14:45:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $45 OVER
Brent was down 48 cents, or 1%, at $44.89 a barrel, WTI fell 34 cents, or 0.8%, at $42.59 a barrel.
2020, August, 20, 14:35:00
U.S. OIL INVENTORIES DOWN BY 1.6 MB TO 512.5 MB
U.S. commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 1.6 million barrels to 512.5 million barrels,
2020, August, 20, 14:20:00
OIL DEMAND 97%
it is estimated that the world will reach about 97% of pre-pandemic oil demand during the fourth quarter
2020, August, 19, 12:35:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $45 STILL
Brent fell 40 cents, or 0.9%, to $45.06 a barrel, WTI were down 34 cents, or 0.8%, at $42.55 a barrel
