Oil Prices Resume Downtrend in Asia

W460

Another surge in U.S. stockpiles pushed oil prices lower again Thursday, giving up some of the big gains in New York that came after the Federal Reserve cooled the chances of an early summer interest rate hike.

U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery was down $1.11 to $43.55 while Brent crude for May tumbled 78 cents to $55.13 in afternoon trade.

WTI gained $1.20 in U.S. trade and Brent jumped $2.40 after the U.S. central bank signaled it was in no hurry raise rates, which sent the dollar tumbling.

A weaker U.S. currency makes dollar-priced oil cheaper, fueling demand and boosting prices.

But the rally was shortlived as the fundamentals of an oversupplied market and weaker demand took hold of sentiment following the U.S. crude inventory report, analysts said.

The U.S. Department of Energy on Wednesday said stocks jumped 9.6 million barrels for the week ending March 13.

"The report indicates a build up in the global supply glut that has been pushing prices down thus far," said Shailaja Nair, associate editorial director at energy information provider Platts.

Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, said prices would remain under pressure for as long as supply was outpacing demand.

"Fundamentals have not changed and just a short-term jolt in prices from the weakening U.S. dollar will not change that fact," he said in a market commentary.

"Prices are still going to stay low if demand and supply does not improve."

World oil prices have collapsed by about 60 percent since June, with the strong U.S. production exacerbating elevated output by the OPEC cartel.

Comments 0