Crude Oil Falls First Day in Three on Slowing Growth in China

Crude oil fell for the first day in three on concern growth will slow in China, cutting fuel demand in the world’s second largest energy user. Oil gave up some of yesterday’s 2.4 percent gain on speculation Chinese demand will slow as policymakers trim economic stimulus after the $1.4 trillion lending binge that revived growth in 2009. Crude supplies at Cushing, Oklahoma, where New York traded West Texas Intermediate oil is delivered, rose last week, the Energy Information Administration said.

“The mood is still cautious,” said Toby Hassall, a commodity analyst at CWA Global Markets Pty in Sydney. “The numbers from the EIA were not unexpected in terms of the seasonal pattern. There is still caution in the marketplace.” Crude oil for July delivery dropped as much as 42 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $74.19 a barrel, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $74.31 at 10:33 a.m. Singapore time. Yesterday, the contract rose $1.75 to settle at $74.61. Futures are poised for a 0.4 percent gain for the week, the second consecutive weekly increase.

“Sentiment is still very fragile,” David Moore, a commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. in Sydney, said by telephone today. “Inventories are still high. There are some signs of improvement but it’s certainly not a tight market at this stage”....Read the entire article.

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