Oil gains, led by US crude, as recession worries ease

Tokyo: Oil prices rose on Wednesday, with US crude gaining 1 per cent after an industry report showed stockpiles in the United States, the world’s biggest oil user, fell more than expected, easing worries about economic growth due to the China-US trade war.

Brent crude futures climbed 42 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to 59.93 a barrel by 0220 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 56 cents, or 1 per cent, to USD 55.49 a barrel.

US crude stockpiles fell sharply last week as imports dropped, plummeting by 11.1 million barrels, compared with expectations for a 2 million barrel draw, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute (API), showed.

The US government’s weekly report is due to be released Wednesday morning and if official numbers confirm the API data then it will be the biggest weekly decline in nine weeks.

“The mammoth crude inventory draw has, at least for the time being, put to rest those US recessionary doom and gloom fears that have been hanging over oil markets like a dark cloud,” said Stephen Innes, managing partner at Valour Markets.

Still, concerns about global growth amid the raging trade war between the United States and China, which are the two biggest crude oil consumers, are likely to cap gains.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he believed China was sincere about wanting to reach a deal, while Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said China was willing to resolve the dispute through “calm” negotiations.

On Tuesday, however, concerns about trade resurfaced after China’s foreign ministry that it had not heard of any recent telephone call between the United States and China on trade, and said it hopes Washington can stop its wrong actions and create conditions for talks.

Crude oil prices have fallen about 20 per cent from 2019 highs reached in April, partly because of worries that the US-China trade war is hurting the global economy, which could dent demand for oil.

“Global recession risks are higher than at any stage since the (global financial crisis) and the US is not immune,” Morgan Stanley said.

China’s Commerce Ministry last week said it would impose additional tariffs of 5 per cent or 10 per cent on 5,078 products originating from the United States, including crude oil, agricultural products and small aircraft.

In retaliation, Trump said he was ordering US companies to look at ways to close operations in China and make products in the United States.