Oil Slides Near $48 as IEA Cuts Demand Estimates for OPEC Crude

Futures declined 0.5 percent in New York. Neither a pledge by the two biggest Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries producers to strengthen their commitment to output curbs nor shrinking U.S. crude stockpiles is managing to lift prices. The IEA reduced estimates for the amount of crude needed from OPEC this year and next by 400,000 barrels after revising historical data on emerging-market consumption, it said in its monthly report.

While U.S. crude inventories dropped to the lowest since October, gasoline stockpiles last week expanded for the first time since early June, indicating that consumption boosted by the summer driving season may be waning. OPEC’s rate of compliance with production cuts slipped last month to 75 percent, the lowest since the accord started in January, the IEA said. OPEC reported Thursday its output is increasing on more supplies from Libya, which is exempt from the deal.

“Concerns about the persisting supply glut resurfaced after petro-nations reported growing oil output,” said Norbert Ruecker, head of commodities research at Julius Baer Group Ltd. in Zurich. “We maintain a neutral view and see oil prices trading sideways as growing shale output and stagnant western-world oil demand undermine the Middle East’s supply deal.”

West Texas Intermediate for September delivery lost 25 cents to $48.34 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:26 a.m. in London. Total volume traded was about 35 percent above the 100-day average. Prices are down 2.5 percent this week.

Brent for October settlement fell 20 cents to $51.70 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices on Thursday dropped 80 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $51.90. The global benchmark is down 1.3 percent this week and traded at a premium of $3.22 to October WTI.
more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-11/oil-drifts-under-49-while-saudis-try-to-reassure-market-on-cuts