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- Analyst Paola Rodriguez Masiu: Prices are once again under pressure as concerns over the pace of the demand recovery intensified
- US crude inventories rose unexpectedly by 5.7 million barrels in the week to June 5 to 538.1 million barrels
LONDON: Oil prices slumped on Thursday, dragged down by another record build-up in US crude inventories and the US Federal Reserve鈥檚 projections that the world鈥檚 biggest economy would shrink 6.5% this year.
Brent crude futures erased Wednesday鈥檚 gains, falling 6.6%, or $2.74, to $38.99 a barrel by 1342 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 7.6%, or $3.02, to $36.58 a barrel.
Both benchmarks are set for their worst daily drops since April 21 and 27, respectively.
鈥淧rices are once again under pressure as concerns over the pace of the demand recovery intensified,鈥� said Rystad Energy鈥檚 oil markets analyst Paola Rodriguez Masiu.
US crude inventories rose unexpectedly by 5.7 million barrels in the week to June 5 to 538.1 million barrels 鈥� a record 鈥� as imports were boosted by the arrival of supplies bought by refiners when 黑料社区 flooded the market in March and April, Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed.
It also showed gasoline stockpiles grew more than expected to 258.7 million barrels. Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 1.6 million barrels, although the increase was smaller than in previous weeks.
Adding to the pressure on prices, the US Federal Reserve said US unemployment was set to reach 9.3% at the end of 2020 and it would take years to fall back, while interest rates were expected to stay near zero at least through next year.
Total US coronavirus cases topped 2 million on Wednesday, with new infections rising slightly after five weeks of declines, according to a Reuters analysis.
鈥淣o significant price relief is anticipated in 2020 but next year promises to become tighter due to improving consumption,鈥� said PVM oil analyst Tmas Varga.
鈥淔or this forecast to prove accurate, however, assistance is required from the world鈥檚 swing producers. OPEC+ needs to stick to the April deal and keep its agreed 5.8 mbpd output restraints below the October 2018 baseline all through next year.鈥�