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Oil prices are on pace for a weekly gain as U.S. economic growth and stimulus in China raise hopes for more robust crude demand this year.
The West Texas Intermediate contract for March fell 90 cents, or 1.16%, to trade at $76.46 a barrel Friday morning, while the Brent contract for March dropped 71 cents, or 0.86%, to trade at $81.75 a barrel.
U.S. crude and the global benchmark, however, are poised to post a weekly gain of more than 4%. WTI and Brent are up 7% and 6.3%, respectively, for the year so far.
The U.S. reported stronger-than-expected economic growth in the fourth quarter of 3.3%, compared to 2% expected by Wall Street. China, meanwhile, is loosening reserve requirements for its bank in an effort to boost growth amid concerns that its economy is faltering.
“The two largest oil consumers in the world could likely have some pretty strong demand this year,” Robert Thummel, portfolio manager at Tortoise, told CNBC.
The potential for more robust demand comes as crude supply fell in the U.S. due to winter storms. Crude inventories fell by 9.2 million barrels last week as production dropped by 1 million barrels per day, according to data from the Energy Information Agency.
There were also indications that a truce in Gaza is in the works. If that occurs, it could ease the geopolitical risk in the Middle East that typically bolsters crude prices.
The White House plans to dispatch CIA director William Burns to help negotiate a two-month truce in the war in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas, officials familiar with the matter told the Washington Post. But one of the officials told the paper that Hamas has rebuffed the proposal and demanded a permanent ceasefire in exchange for the hostages.
“An obstinate Israel, which refuses to effectively discuss truce, let alone a sustainable peace plan unless Hamas is obliterated will ensure continuous shipping disruptions in the Red Sea,” Tamas Varga, with oil broker PVM, wrote in Friday note.
Houthi militants in Yemen have continued to target shipping in the Red Sea despite U.S. airstrikes. China has asked Iran to rein in the attacks by the Houthis or risk harming business with Beijing, four Iranian sources and a diplomat familiar told Reuters.
A suspected Ukrainian drone attack on Russian fuel terminal on the Baltic Sea last weekend also highlighted the ongoing geopolitical threats to fuel supplies.
“It provided invaluable help for an upside break out of the recent trading range handing the momentum over to those with bullish propensity,” Varga said of the drone attack.
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