Oil Swings in Thin Trading as Traders Await OPEC’s Next Moves
Oil flipped from losses to gains as traders watched for any further clues to OPEC+’s production plans after it delayed a key virtual meeting by four days.
Brent crude traded near $73 a barrel following a modest gain on Thursday. The producer group faces a decision on whether to start reviving curtailed production when a supply glut is expected next year.
An online gathering is now schedule for Dec. 5, but OPEC+ delegates already said earlier this week that talks have begun on once again delaying restoring output.
Crude has traded in a tight range since the middle of October, flipping between consecutive weekly gains and losses. Prices have been buffeted by fluctuating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, waning demand in top importer China and concerns whether President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming policies could affect supply from Russia and Iran.
“We expect Brent to break under $70 a barrel and approach $60 a barrel as the seasonally weak 1Q-2Q period approaches,” said Tamas Varga, an analyst at brokerage PVM. “Next year promises to be looser than the current one and oil prices are to average below the 2024 level.”
Trading volumes were lower due to Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday, with just over 2.4 million contracts of WTI changing hands in the US so far this week. That’s just over half the average weekly volume over the past year.
Brent for February edged up 0.25% to $72.96 as of 1:42 p.m. in London.
The front-month contract was at 73.20.
WTI for January delivery rose 0.77% from Wednesday’s close to 69.25 a barrel.
Futures didn’t settle on Thursday due to the US holiday.
Source : Bloomberg
