Crude Oil Climbs After Reports Show Gains in U.S., Chinese Manufacturing

Crude oil rose after manufacturing in the U.S. and China, the world’s biggest energy consuming countries, accelerated at a faster pace than expected in August. Oil climbed as much as 3 percent and equities rebounded from the biggest August slump in nine years after the Tempe, Arizona based Institute for Supply Management’s factory index rose to 56.3 from 55.5 in July. U.S. crude oil supplies increased 3.43 million barrels to 361.7 million last week, an Energy Department report showed today.

“Oil moves along with equities, the fundamentals don’t matter,” said Chip Hodge, who oversees a $9 billion natural, resource bond portfolio as senior managing director at MFC Global Investment Management in Boston. “Any shred of positive or negative economic news will move the oil market by a couple percentage points.” Crude oil for October delivery rose $2.26, or 3.1 percent, to $74.18 a barrel at 10:59 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil traded at $73.63 a barrel before the release of the report at 10:30 a.m. in Washington.

Economists forecast the ISM factory index would decline to 52.8, according to the median of 78 projections in a Bloomberg News survey. Estimates ranged from 49.9 to 56. Manufacturing in China grew at a faster pace in August after the weakest performance since early 2009 in July, signaling that the economy’s slowdown is stabilizing.

Rising Index
The purchasing managers’ index rose to 51.7 from 51.2, exceeding forecasts, a government-backed report showed. Seasonal factors might have had an effect because the index typically gains as factories restart following July maintenance, Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. said. A separate PMI released by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics gained to 51.9 from 49.4.

The August reading for the government index was more than the median 51.5 forecast in the Bloomberg survey of 17 economists. Fifty is the dividing line between expansion and contraction.
Australia’s economy grew at the fastest pace in three years last quarter, stoked by China’s demand for iron ore. Gross domestic product advanced 1.2 percent from the first quarter, when it rose a revised 0.7 percent, the Bureau of Statistics said in Sydney today.

Reporter Mark Shenk can be reached at mshenk1@bloomberg.net and Margot Habiby at mhabiby@bloomberg.net.

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Crude Rises After Dollar Weakens, Report Shows Gain in Consumer Spending

Crude oil rose after the dollar dropped against the euro and U.S. manufacturing increased at the fastest pace since August 2004, signaling that fuel use in the world’s biggest energy consuming country will gain.

Oil climbed as much as 1.8 percent as the weak dollar bolstered the appeal of commodities. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index advanced to 58.4, higher than anticipated, from December’s 54.9, figures from the Tempe, Arizona-based group showed. A separate report showed that European manufacturing gained last month.

“The first factor at work is the weaker dollar,” said Addison Armstrong, director of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. “The ISM number was very strong. The strength isn’t just here, European manufacturing is also expanding.”

Crude oil for March delivery rose 95 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $73.84 a barrel at 11:31 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures fell to $72.89 on Jan. 29, the lowest settlement since Dec. 21.

The greenback slipped 0.4 percent versus the euro to $1.3911, from $1.3863 on Jan. 29.

The U.S. manufacturing figure exceeded economists’ median forecast of 55.5, according to 67 projections in a Bloomberg News survey. Readings higher than 50 signal an expansion. Manufacturing accounts for about 12 percent of the economy.

European manufacturing also accelerated more than estimated in January. An index of manufacturing in the 16-nation euro region increased to 52.4 from 51.6 in December, London-based Markit Economics said today.....Read the entire article.

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Fundamental Analysis For Energy Market

Black gold markets continue their rally as economic data from the first and second biggest oil consumer's, the United States and China regarding the manufacturing sector which aroused anticipations in the markets that the worst of this global recession is over. With the manufacturing sector performing better now, this demand that oil demand would start increasing and this attracted investors to oil markets as they seek potential in profits. The contract gained $2.13 closing at $71.58 while recording a high of $72.20 per barrel.....Complete Story