Yemisi Izuora
Oil prices slipped on Friday as concerns over economic growth were rekindled after talks fell short of offering concrete steps to end the US, China trade conflict, although OPEC-led production cuts bolstered sentiment in crude markets.
Oil prices were also supported by comments from US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday that the central bank had the ability to be patient on monetary policy.
International Brent crude futures were at $61.22 per barrel down 46 cents, or 0.75 per cent, from their last close. However, Brent remains on track for a second consecutive week of gains as it is up about 7 per cent so far this week.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped 34 cents, or 0.65 per cent, to $52.25 per barrel. WTI has climbed 9 per cent this week, its biggest weekly rise since December, 2016.
China said three days of talks with the United States that wrapped up on Wednesday had established a “foundation” to resolve differences over trade. But it gave few details on key issues at stake, including a scheduled US tariff increase on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.
A partial US government shutdown and tepid economic data in some countries also dragged on broad financial markets.
“If we experience an economic slowdown, crude will underperform due to its correlation to growth,” said Hue Frame, portfolio manager at Frame Funds in Sydney.
“China and the US managing to agree on a positive deal would favour further risk-on sentiment within markets over the short-term. However, it is becoming more difficult to look past the weak readings of global manufacturing.”
China’s producer prices in December rose at their slowest pace in more than two years, a worrying sign of deflationary risks that could see Beijing roll out more policy support to help stabilise the economy.
“However, investors are becoming increasingly confident that OPEC+ production cuts will balance the market,” ANZ Bank said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia said earlier this week that supply curbs started in late 2018 by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC producers including Russia, would bring the oil market into balance.
“We believe further price appreciation will occur during 2019, although the year will be marked with continued volatility,” analysts at Fitch Solutions said on Friday.
“The main factors we believe that will support higher prices are the winding down of sanction waivers for Iran and continued strong demand growth from emerging markets outside of China.”
Asia’s Iranian oil imports were set to rise from December onwards as the United States granted temporary waivers to some countries from sanctions against Iran’s oil exports. The waivers are due to expire around the start of May.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Thursday that the US sanctions against his country were “fully illegal” and Tehran would not comply with them.