Crude Oil Rises on Optimism About Economic Recovery in the U.S.

Crude oil rose in New York on optimism fuel demand will increase amid improved prospects for an economic recovery in the U.S., the biggest energy consumer. Oil extended its rally to an eighth day amid forecasts the worst U.S. employment slump since World War II may have almost ended in December. Cold U.S. weather has increased demand for distillates, a category of products that includes heating fuels. “There are further indications that the recovery is progressing,” Ben Westmore, a minerals and energy economist at National Australia Bank in Melbourne, said today. The decline in distillate product supplies is “looking good,” he said. “The market is expecting further draw downs. Hopefully we see that this week.”

Crude oil for February delivery rose 48 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $79.84 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 10:44 a.m. Sydney time. It closed at $79.36 on Dec. 31. Prices touched a 2009 low of $32.70 a barrel on Jan. 20 as the recession reduced demand, and reached as high as $82 on Oct. 21, partly because a weaker dollar bolstered the investment appeal of commodities, including gold. Futures climbed 78 percent last year and tripled over the past decade.....Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil Trades Near $73 on Signs of Global Economic Recovery

Crude oil traded near $73 a barrel in New York after rising last week amid optimism demand will increase as the global economy recovers from its worst recession since World War II. Oil prices may gain this week on expectations that increasing fuel demand in the U.S., the largest energy consumer, will reduce inventories, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Reports this week are forecast to show increasing sales of existing and new homes in the country. “If the sentiment around demand recovery continues to improve I’d see upward support for oil prices,” Ben Westmore, a minerals and energy economist at National Australia Bank Ltd., said in Melbourne. “But an oversupply problem overshadows the market, and it’s hard to see oil pushing much higher.”

Crude oil for January delivery was at $73.29 a barrel, down 7 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:51 p.m. Singapore time. The contract, which expires today, rose 1 percent to $73.36 on Dec. 18, the highest settlement since Dec. 7. Futures climbed 5 percent last week, the most in two months, and have gained 64 percent this year. Prices had jumped after Iranian troops occupied an oil field in a disputed border region with Iraq. The troops withdrew from the al-Fakah well in the East Maysan field late Dec. 19 after an armed confrontation, Iraq’s deputy minister of oil Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi said yesterday. Separately, Iraqi television cited government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh as saying Iranian soldiers remained in Iraqi territory.....Read the entire article.


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Crude Oil Rises for Eighth Day on Speculation Demand Recovering

Crude oil climbed above $79 a barrel in New York for the first time in a year, rising for an eighth day on speculation demand will increase as the global economy recovers from recession. A report today may show confidence among home builders in the U.S., the world’s largest oil consumer, is at its highest in 17 months, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. There is no shortage of oil and OPEC won’t increase output to quell price gains driven by speculators, Secretary General Abdalla El-Badri told the Wall Street Journal on Oct. 16.

“The economic numbers are looking better and a lot of that seems to have already been priced in,” said Ben Westmore, energy and minerals economist at National Australia Bank Ltd. in Melbourne. “There is still a big question mark over how much of that, especially in the U.S. and China, is being driven by the stimulus packages.”
Crude oil for November delivery rose as much as 52 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $79.05 a barrel in after hours electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest since Oct. 15 2008.....Read the entire article.

Oil Rises Fifth Day to Near $75 as OPEC Raises Demand Forecast

Crude oil rose for a fifth day, trading near $75 a barrel in New York, after OPEC increased its world energy demand forecast and the weaker dollar boosted the the appeal of commodities. Oil gained 1.2 percent yesterday as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries raised its 2010 global oil consumption estimate on expansion in emerging economies. The International Energy Agency last week upgraded its demand prediction. Crude also climbed as the dollar fell to the lowest against the euro since August 2008.

“OPEC revised up its global oil consumption forecast for 2010 and that comes on the back of the IEA revising up their forecast,” said Ben Westmore, an energy and minerals economist at National Australia Bank Ltd. in Melbourne. “It is further fueling the sentiment that the demand outlook is better than what a lot of people are expecting.” Crude oil for November delivery gained as much as 81 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $74.96 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and traded at $74.77 at 9:27 a.m. Singapore time. Prices last reached $75 on Aug. 25, the highest since October.....read the entire article.

Bloomberg Analysis: Oil’s Sideways Trend Points to $70 Breakout

Crude oil has a greater chance of rising above $70 a barrel the longer it stays in the sideways pattern that has characterized trading in the past two months, according to National Australia Bank Ltd. Oil has been locked in a band of $65 to $75 a barrel since the start of August as traders weighed optimism over the prospects for a recovery in global demand against a supply glut. As the market has held its floor, prices will soon rise, said Gordon Manning, a Sydney based analyst, citing technical charts.

“The longer we’re in a sideways pattern, when we do break out, potentially the more powerful it’s going to be,” Manning said in an interview. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see that sort of ‘kick’ from around these current levels back up to about $70. There’s more of a risk of a $3 rally than a $3 fall from here”.....Read the entire article