What's Moving the Oil Markets?

 

•- ICE Brent crude futures continue to creep upwards Friday, extending the gains made on Thursday and clawing back some of the sharp losses seen earlier in the week.

•- World powers gave Iran a new early October deadline to halt uranium enrichment on Wednesday, helping provide some support to oil prices, although the news has been received cautiously by the oil market as previous deadlines have come and gone with little impact, one London broker said.

•- The market is also in need of a "breather," added the broker, following a turbulant week that has seen an intra-week high of $64.86/barrel on Tuesday, following news of delays to the BP Thunder Horse oil field in the US Gulf, and an intra-week low of $60.34/barrel on Thursday as US natural gas inventory builds brought the market lower.

•- The largest obstacle barring a recovery in prices remains the oversupply of crude and products on both sides of the Atlantic, said one trader. US oil inventory levels need to be eroded further, particularly on the products side with winter fuel proving to be well stocked, Barclays Capital said in its latest weekly report.
 

Copyright © 2005 - Platts

Please visit:  www.platts.com

Their coverage of energy matters is extensive!!.

Copyright © 2005 - Platts

Please visit:  www.platts.com

Their coverage of energy matters is extensive!!.